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LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND 
PIONEERS IN AMERICA 



Lutheran Landmarks and 
Pioneers in America 



A SERIES OF SKETCHES OF COLONIAL TIMES 



BY 

WILLIAM J. FINCK 

PASTOR OF EMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 
NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA 

With an Introduction by 
PROF. ELMER F. KRAUSS, D. D. 



WITH MANY APPROPRIATE ILLUSTRATIONS 



PHILADELPHIA 

GENERAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION HOUSE 

1913 



Copyright, 1913 

BY 

WILLIAM J. FINCK 



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ON THE OCCASION OF HER EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY 
NOVEMBER 22, 1913 



CONTENTS 



Page 
Introduction 7 

Sketch 

I. Dying in the Frozen North 15 

II. Following ln the Wake of Henry Hudson 22 

Among the Swedes on the Delaware. 

III. Christina and Her Colony in the New World. . 28 

IV. Bearers op Light in the Hours of Darkness... . 34 
V. Morning Breaks Upon the Gloom 42 

VI. The Greatest of the Three 49 

VII. The Oldest Place of Worship in Philadelphia ... 59 

VIII. The Last of the Swedish Missionaries 71 

Among the Germans ln Virginia and 
Pennsylvania. 
IX. A Pilgrimage to the Oldest Lutheran Landmark 

Erected by Germans 80 

X. The Forerunners of the Great Pioneer 91 

XI. Germany's Greatest Gift to America 102 

XII. The Old Trappe Church no 

Among the Salzburgers in Georgia. 

XIII. The Salzburger Exiles 121 

XIV. Prosperity and Adversity Among the Salzburgers 131 
XV. The Salzburger Landmark 141 

XVI. The Pioneers Educating Their Sons for the 

Ministry 148 

The Pioneers Helping to Lay the Foundation 
Stones of the Temple of Liberty. 

XVII. Chaplain Christian Streit 158 

XVIII. General Peter Muhlenberg 168 

XIX. Governor John Adam Treutlen 179 

Appendix. . , 189 

Index 195 

5 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware Frontispiece 

Facing Page 

Hudson Bay Camp 17 

Trinity Lutheran Church, New York 26 

Where the Swedes Landed 29 

Site of Lutheran Church at Cranehook 36 

Block Church at Wicaco 36 

Rev. Ericus Tobias Biorck : 49 

Gloria Dei, Philadelphia 63 

Interior of Gloria Dei, Philadelphia. 65 

Map of Swedish Colony 70 

St. George's Church near Pennsville 73 

The Old Oak, Salem, New Jersey 75 

Trinity Church, Swedesboro, New Jersey 77 

Hebron Church as it is , 83 

Hebron Church as it was 85 

The Old Communion Service 86 

New Hanover Lutheran Church 97 , 

Tombstone of Maria Elizabeth Henkel 98 . 

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg 103 

Old Trappe Church 113 

Historic Vessels and Bible at the Trappe Church 115 

The Lutheran Church in Salzburg 121 

Pastor Bolzius 125 

A Salzburger Home 132 

Jerusalem Church, Ebenezer, Georgia 141 

The Lutheran Church at Rincon, Georgia 144 

The Three Brothers who as Boys went to Halle 149 

Christian Streit. . : 158 

Old Church Wall and Streit Monument 165 

The Muhlenberg Communion Service 169 

General Muhlenberg Statue, Philadelphia 177 

John Adam Treutlen 179 

The Oglethorpe Monument, Savannah, Georgia 187 

6 



INTRODUCTION 



Young life is nearly always interesting. An animal 
even, which in its maturity offers but little that is attract- 
ive to the casual observer, by its activity and gracefulness 
and by its abounding vitality in infancy, arouses an in- 
terest in the most careless and indifferent. In the same 
manner the beginnings of great institutions usually 
afford an absorbing interest which is experienced by 
the student at no subsequent development of their 
progress. The beginnings of Church History are scruti- 
nized with an interest that is not exceeded at any later 
period. This principle also applies to the beginnings of 
our Church's history in the New World. This depart- 
ment has not received in the past the amount of attention 
that it deserves, and we hail with delight the results of 
new and independent labors in this interesting and 
profitable field. " Lutheran Landmarks and Pioneers in 
America" is a work of this character. 

This book is the fruit of many years of investigation 
and study. The author was reared almost within the 
shadow of Trinity Church, that monument of colonial 
Lutheran devotion that stands to this day on the banks 
of the Christina in the city of Wilmington; and in his 
schoolboy days his thoughts often centered upon this 
venerable edifice with its interesting and stirring history 

7 



INTRODUCTION 

of Lutheran loyalty and devotion in colonial times. His 
study of this beginning of Lutheran history along the 
Delaware developed a thirst for study and research in 
other fields of like character, that was not to be satiated 
by deep draughts at this refreshing spring. It grew with 
his growth and developed into a passion that drove him 
during the scant hours of leisure in the busy life of a faith- 
ful and successful pastor to a delightful study of the traces 
of early Lutheran activity in more distant fields. Libra- 
ries were ransacked, the dust of centuries was blown off 
musty old manuscripts in the search for data, a valuable 
and interesting library bearing on early Lutheran history 
in America was slowly collected, and vacation trips were 
planned and executed which at the expense of wearisome 
journeys afoot and by more modern modes of conveyance 
led him into rich fields of study and research. The 
results of these labors lie before us in the pagqs of the 
interesting and stimulating book now offered to the 
Lutheran public. 

Besides its general historical interest which must appeal 
to the reader outside of the Lutheran Church, it contains 
many lessons of especial importance to the Lutheran and 
touches upon many topics that vitally affect the work of 
the Church at the present period of her development. 
To point out briefly and to emphasize a few of these topics 
of timely interest is the object of this introduction. 

In this study of the early beginnings of the history of 
our beloved Lutheran Church in this country, we are 
impressed with the manner in which our fathers handled 
the language problem. This has been a burning question 

8 



INTRODUCTION 

with us, in the solution of which there has been in the 
course of the last century and more an incalculable loss 
to the Church. It is refreshing to note that the men of 
old subordinated the interests of language to the supreme 
interests of the Kingdom of God and recognized the fact 
that the striking miracle of the Day of Pentecost is sig- 
nificant of the truth that "the wonderful works of God" 
may be successfully proclaimed through the medium of 
more than one tongue. 

Loyalty to the Church and her Confessions is written 
large over every page of this early history. "The word 
of God was precious in those days, " and the pure Confes- 
sions of the Church were prized as a great treasure, not 
to be apologized for, or to be languidly studied simply 
for their historical interest, but as containing a succinct 
statement of the teaching of the Inspired Word of God. 
In these days of false liberalism and haughty indifference 
to objective truth, which cannot fail to have an effect also 
upon individuals of a certain type even in conservative 
ranks, it is well to emphasize this faithfulness to the 
Word of God and to the standards of the Church. 

It is refreshing to note the missionary zeal that charac- 
terized our spiritual forbears in this country. The native 
red men were not regarded as easy subjects for exploita- 
tion to the advantage of the settlers; but in the spirit 
of Christ they were lovingly regarded as children of a com- 
mon Heavenly Father, to be taught the precious truths 
of Salvation and to be made members of his eternal King- 
dom. How changed would the history of this nation's 
treatment of the Indian read if the kindly methods of our 

9 



INTRODUCTION 

Lutheran Swedes along the Delaware had been employed 
elsewhere! 

When we read the accounts of the long and laborious 
journeys made by our preachers in colonial times, long 
before the modern triumphs of steam and electricity were 
dreamed of, as they traveled, surrounded by manifold 
dangers and hardships, from Georgia to New York, in 
gathering the scattered sheep of our faith into congrega- 
tions and in establishing them in the true Apostolic spirit, 
we may well congratulate ourselves upon the easier times 
in which our lot is cast, and seriously raise the question 
whether we are as faithful in our generation as they were 
in doing the paramount work entrusted to the Church 
by her Divine Founder and Head. 

The Church in her purer periods has always been an 
educational institution. Paul taught the youthful Tim- 
othy "the form of sound words." Aquila and Priscilla 
instructed the eloquent Alexandrian Apollos in the way 
of the Lord. Early in the Church's history catechetical 
schools sprang up in every large city of the Empire. 
During the dark ages the torch of learning was kept alive 
by the Church. The historical seats of learning were 
founded and fostered by the Church and her leaders. The 
beginnings of genuine popular education were made under 
the auspices of the Church, and to the Church we owe all 
that is good in the popular systems of education of today. 
This zeal for learning which always characterizes the 
true Church is conspicuously in evidence in the early 
history of our Church in America. The schoolhouse 
was erected by the side of the sanctuary and the teacher 

10 



INTRODUCTION 

was provided by the Church. If the Church is to hold 
her own, which she undoubtedly will, she must bestir 
herself mightily in this present age and manifest a greater 
spirit of sacrifice and consecrated enterprise than ever 
before in her glorious history in meeting the demands of 
a genuinely Christian education. 

A striking lesson of the history of our early Church in 
this country is the fact that a church that does not pro- 
vide her own ministry cannot abide. How different would 
be the later history of the Swedish churches along the 
Delaware if they could have provided themselves with a 
ministry of their own! It is pathetic to read the appeals 
of the Lutheran settlers in a strange land to their brethren 
at home to send them books, teachers, and pastors, and 
it points us a significant lesson to note the early efforts put 
forth by these earnest pioneers to raise up a ministry 
among themselves. The harvest still is plenteous and the 
laborers are few — fewer than ever before it almost seems — 
and we need to lay the lesson seriously to heart that an 
abiding church is one that is alive to the claims of Christian 
education and that sincerely regards the education of an 
efficient ministry of paramount importance. 

Amid such a feast of good things as this book affords 
from cover to cover, it is hardly fair to make a distinction, 
but it seems but just to point out the fitting climax to the 
preceding pages in the closing chapters on "The Pioneers 
Helping to Lay the Foundation Stones of the Temple 
of Liberty." We have always been a modest folk, and 
because of our reluctance to sound our own praises our 
achievements have remained unknown beyond our own 

II 



INTRODUCTION 

borders. By many to this day we are considered hardly 
an exotic flourishing at a sickly dying rate in the free at- 
mosphere of this country, with no part in the formation 
of the institutions which we are privileged to enjoy. 
Until recent times historians have been blind to every 
influence that could not be traced back to Plymouth 
Rock and to whom the whole Lutheran Church was no 
more than a "Dutch" sect unworthy of recognition as 
contributing any desirable element in the establishing 
of our glorious institutions. The reading of this book 
and especially of these closing sketches ought to convince 
such that the Lutheran Church has an abiding place and 
an honored name in this new country of which she cannot 
be deprived. Our history in America, like that on the 
continent of Europe, is a glorious one. No blush of 
shame needs mantle the cheek of a loyal son of hers as he 
peruses these pages. Such a study must strengthen his 
Lutheran consciousness, increase a praiseworthy pride in 
the Church of his choice, and fill him with a stronger 
determination through her to serve more loyally than ever 
before the Great Head of the Church. 

Elmer F. Krauss. 
Maywood, Illinois, 
July 30, 1913. 



12 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

It is but just to make mention of the author's obliga- 
tions to the Rev. Dr. W. L. Hunton for bringing these 
sketches to the notice of the reading public of the Lutheran 
Church through the columns of Young Folks and Young 
People. Much of the interest manifested in the series 
was due to the prominent place given the articles and the 
many appropriate illustrations used to embellish them. 

The appearance of these chapters of Lutheran Church 
History in the permanent form of a book is wholly due to 
the many kind expressions of interest received from the 
readers of the sketches as they were published in the two 
periodicals named. 

The author feels deeply indebted to Mr. Elon O. 
Henkel, of New Market, Virginia, for the kind assistance 
he rendered in the final reading of the proof. 

This modest contribution to Church History is sent 
forth as a Lutheran Sketch Book with the hope that it 
may not fail in its mission of deepening the love of its 
readers for their Church and of intensifying their zeal and 
benevolence for the Master's cause. 

W. J. F. 
13 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS 
IN AMERICA 



DYING IN THE FROZEN NORTH 

A year before the "Mayflower'' sailed from the coast 
of England, a flotilla of two vessels with sixty-six men 
left the shores of Denmark under the command of Cap- 
tain Jens Munck. The boats bore the strange names 
"Enhjorningen" and "Lamprenen." Their object was to 
find a northern route to East India. The discoveries of 
Columbus and those following him had proved that a 
continent lay between Europe and India to the west, 
and many efforts were directed toward getting past this 
continent of land by finding a passage to the north of it, 
and thus reaching the desired haven of gold and spices. 

The little fleet had no difficulty in crossing the Atlantic, 
and in July touched the southern point of Greenland. 
Continuing their journey to the westward they entered 
Hudson Bay, and in August landed on its western shore 
near the Churchill River. This was in 1619, just nine 
years after Henry Hudson had discovered these same 
waters and named them Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay. 
He, too, tried to find a course to the westward that would 

15 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

take him to India, but without success. From the time 
of Hudson's visit to these northern seas it took three 
centuries before the way was found, for only a few years 
ago Roalf Amundsen, a Norwegian, the famous discoverer 
of the South Pole, found a way for the first time through 
these northern straits and seas out into the Pacific Ocean 
through the Behring Strait. The discovery is made, but 
it is doubtful whether it will have any practical value for 
commerce or the spread of Christianity. 

When Captain Munck anchored his two vessels, he 
took possession of the country in the name of his king, 
Christian IV, and named it Nova Dania, New Denmark. 
As it was too late in the season to make the effort to pro- 
ceed on his journey, he disembarked with his crew and 
prepared to spend the long winter in the new settlement. 
The open season here lasts but two months, July and 
August; during the rest of the time the ground and water 
are frozen. Vegetation is scarce and only the fur-covered 
animals are seen. 

These sixty-six sailors were the first Lutherans of 
whose settlement on the soil of North America we have 
any authentic record. There may have been Lutherans 
among the Dutch settlers on Manhattan Island as early 
as 1620, but we have no account of any until several 
years later. Among the Danes that settled on the 
Hudson Bay there was a Lutheran minister, whose name 
was Rasmus Jensen. He was probably of the parish of 
Aarhus, Denmark, as this name is given in one of the 
old records connected with his own name. He touched 
the soil of America nineteen years before the Swedish 

16 




Hudson Bay Camp, 1619-20 



DYING IN THE FROZEN NORTH 

pastor Torkillus reached the shores of the Delaware. 
As we will learn from the history of both of these Lutheran 
ministers, each laid his life on the altar of service in the 
New World, and from their day on to the final comple- 
tion of the temple of American liberty in 1789, the influ- 
ence, labors, and sacrifices of members of the Lutheran 
Church w r ere always in evidence. She is more than a 
charter member of our independent nation. 

The facts of this Danish colony are learned from the 
11 Dagbog " (journal) of Captain Munck. Upon his return 
to Denmark he had it printed. It bears the date 1624 
upon its antique title page and the familiar quotation 
from Virgil, "We dared to brave the dangers of the 
deep." It was published in modern Danish in 1883, and 
recently brought to the attention of the American reader 
by Pastor Andersen of Brooklyn, a member of the Danish 
Lutheran Synod of America. We owe him our deep 
gratitude for giving us this first chapter of history of the 
Lutheran Church in America. 

In his journal Captain Munck gives a drawing of the 
settlement to which we give space in these pages for the 
benefit of our readers. It is reproduced from Dr. 
Schmauk's " History of the Lutheran Church in Penn- 
sylvania." 

In this picture are seen the two ships and the two 
buildings used for the captain and his men. In front 
of the one nearest the reader, the captain himself is seen 
giving orders. His sword of authority is at his side. 
The men are busy at work, felling trees and trimming 
logs. The trees are more numerous than one would 

17 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

expect to find in that cold country. Hunters are seen to 
return with wild animals on their shoulders, and sad to 
relate several of the men are solemnly engaged in burying 
a companion. 

Through the months of September and October, even 
up to the Christmas holidays, all went fairly well. The 
men continued in good health, industriously followed 
their various pursuits, and cheerfully melted ice and 
cooked their food according to their necessities. They 
even engaged in sports. Captain Munck says in his day- 
book, "The weather was fair and mild, and that the time 
should not grow tedious the men practiced several plays, 
and those who proved to be the best players were liked 
the best." The climax of the season of sports was reached 
on the day before Christmas, when Captain Munck 
signalized the day by issuing extra rations and frozen 
liquors to the men. They had a frolicsome time. Christ- 
mas day was celebrated in a happy and sacred way. 
Munck says: "The holy Christmas day we celebrated 
jointly in a Christian manner; we had preaching and the 
Lord's supper, and after service, according to the old 
custom, we offered to the pastor each one according to 
his means. Although money was not very plentiful 
among the people, nevertheless they gave what they had, 
some giving white fox furs, which the pastor used for 
lining his gown." 

The Christmas season marked the end of all enjoyment 
the men may have found in their frozen settlement. 
The winter proved long and dreary, and the hardships 
and privations of the Danish sailors increased from day 

18 



DYING IN THE FROZEN NORTH 

to day. Sickness was added to the other discomforts 
and miseries. The large majority were attacked by 
scurvy, that bane of seamen and soldiers of olden times. 
It is caused by the privation for a considerable time of 
fresh vegetables and produces great debility of body with 
a tendency to congestion and hemorrhage. It is sup- 
posed that more seamen lost their lives in past centuries 
^through this terrible scourge than from all other causes 
combined, whether it be sickness, tempest, famine or 
war. 

Captain Munck's men were seized one after the other, 
and died in rapid succession, usually after lingering for 
three weeks. A heavy gloom settled over the colony, 
and became deeper and deeper. Their chief work now 
was the burial of the bodies of their departed companions. 
Soon after New Year's day the pastor took sick, and Jan- 
uary 25th, when Hans Brock, the helmsman, had died, 
they brought his remains to the pastor's hut for the burial 
ceremonies. It was a fair day, and the sad sailors stood 
about the cabin while the feeble pastor sat on the edge 
of his cot and performed the last sad rites of the dead and 
spoke words of comfort and warning to the living. It was 
his last service, for on February 20, 1620, he, too, answered 
the summons of death and found a grave in the frozen 
ground of the New World. Thus early in American 
history did these western shores lay claim to the life 
service of the ministers of the Church of the Reformation. 

Death continued its work of decimation among these 
stricken Norsemen. Of the sixty-six men but five were 
left on April 14th, which was Good Friday. The captain 

19 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

was one of the five. He now performed the duties of cap- 
tain and chaplain, attending to all religious services as 
best he could and reading to his four companions on this 
day the sermon for Good Friday from the book he had 
inherited from the departed pastor Jensen. 

In May Captain Munck lay deathly sick in his cabin. 
For four days he could not eat a morsel of food. He felt 
that his end was nigh. He solemnly made his will, en- 
tered the last item, as he supposed, in his "dagbog," 
and left instructions to his companions concerning his 
writings. His last sentence in his will was, "All the 
world, Good night, and my soul in the hand of God." 
Fortunately he recovered, but two others of the small 
remnant were claimed by the insatiable hand of death. 
When the sea opened in July, Munck and the two remain- 
ing seamen took the "Lamprenen," the smaller of the two 
vessels, set sail, and after a successful journey reached 
the shores of Norway and Denmark in September. It 
was a sad report the captain made to his lord and king, 
Christian IV, but he made it in a manly and noble man- 
ner. It was not many years before this Christian king 
made a settlement in East India, but not by way of a 
northern route, but by the old course around the Cape 
of Good Hope. This colony formed the basis of opera- 
tions for the first Protestant missionaries sent to that 
distant country, the heroic Lutheran pioneers, Ziegenbalg 
and Plutschau, who labored so successfully laying the- 
foundation of the great work done in India by the Church 
of the Reformation in the last two hundred years. 

Captain Munck lived to see his "dagbog" published. 

20 



DYING IN THE FROZEN NORTH 

He closed it with a fervent prayer. He was an earnest 
man, and did not want to sacrifice human life, but only 
to serve his king and advance the interests of his country, 
for which he was willing to undertake all risks and suffer 
all hardships. He died in the year 1628. His work is not 
forgotten. 

New Denmark was never claimed and occupied by the 
Danish crown, but it must be remembered to all time that 
the frozen ground of this unclaimed territory became the 
home and grave of the first Lutherans in North America, 
and especially of the first Lutheran minister that lived, 
labored, and died in the New World. 

21 



II 

FOLLOWING IN THE WAKE OF HENRY HUDSON 

It is not supposed that there were Lutheran sailors in 
the small crew of Henry Hudson when he discovered the 
beautiful river which has ever since borne his name. He 
himself was an Englishman in the employ of the Dutch 
East India Company and his seamen were no doubt 
Hollanders and members of the Reformed Church. Nor 
is there any reason for supposing that his immediate 
followers under the Dutch West India Company included 
men of our faith. The settlement of the New World by 
the Dutch was an exclusively commercial enterprise, 
like the settlement of Jamestown by the English. Relig- 
ious motives were lacking and consequently the perse- 
cuted Lutherans of Europe were not attracted to this 
settlement, as were the Germans a century later and the 
Salzburgers to Georgia. But when the number of colonists 
began to increase, especially during the time of the wise 
and magnanimous Peter Minuit, the first director general 
of New Amsterdam, Lutherans must have come from 
Holland, for in Amsterdam there were thirty thousand 
members of the Church of the Reformation and large 
numbers in Rotterdam and other cities of Holland. 

However, they are not mentioned by name until 1643, 
when a Catholic missionary to the Indians, Isaac Jogues 

22 



FOLLOWING IN THE WAKE OF HENRY HUDSON 

by name, who had been rescued from his hostile enemies 
by the Dutch and befriended by the Reformed ministers 
of New Amsterdam, refers to them in his records. He 
says, "No religion is publicly exercised but the Calvinist, 
and orders are to admit none but Calvinists, but this is 
not observed, for there are besides Calvinists in the 
colony Catholics, English Puritans, Lutherans, Anabap- 
tists, here called Mennonites, and others." As the 
Lutherans increased in numbers a desire arose among them 
to have a pastor and services of their own, but in this they 
were always opposed by the Reformed ministers and 
also by the directors, Kieft and Stuyvesant. For twenty 
years more they were denied religious freedom, com- 
pelled to accept the ministrations of the Reformed pas- 
tors, and forbidden to meet for services of their own in 
"houses, barns, ships or yachts, in the woods or fields." 
They were fined and even imprisoned, and their first 
pastor, John Ernest Goetwater, was not allowed to min- 
ister to his people in private or public, and was ordered 
to be returned in the same vessel in which he had come. 
Sickness prevented the execution of their orders and he 
remained in the colony for at least a year. There is 
some evidence for asserting that he remained two years, 
from 1657 to 1659. He was a good and earnest man, and 
came in the spirit of His name, to give the "good water" 
of eternal life to his fellow believers. After his return 
to Holland we hear nothing more of this noble hero. 

We associate religious oppression with the old world. 
The Waldensians, Huguenots, Salzburgers, Palatinates, 
and Armenians are all in the old world. Yet America, 

23 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

the cradle of liberty, was not wholly without it in its 
earlier years, and our own people, who never molested 
anyone in their religious worship or ever interfered with 
the civil government, did not escape the hand of the 
oppressor in America, and Holland, that furnished the 
first two martyrs of the Reformation, must itself go down 
in history as the one whose citizens opposed and oppressed 
the Lutherans in the New World. But inasmuch as this 
is now deeply regretted on all sides, it is not necessary 
that these pages be filled with words breathing the spirit 
of animosity. Let us pass it over with two reflections. 
Through much heartache and tribulation in its infancy, 
Lutheranism in Greater New York has grown to grand 
and gigantic proportions in the present century, and 
furthered by God's grace and favor and the consecrated 
w r ealth and unchanging earnestness of His noblemen, it 
promises still more for the future. The Lutherans who 
were persecuted for conscience' sake and on account of 
their "hard Lutheran pate" in those early years, bore 
their sufferings with a warm, loving, Christian heart and 
an unflinching, self-sacrificing steadfastness that should 
win our appreciation and strengthen us iji our loyalty to 
her of whom each reader can say: 

"My Church! My Church! My dear oLd Church! 
My fathers' and my own!" 

$ :fp $ $ $ $ 

When the English conquered the Dutch possessions in 
the New World in 1664, everything was changed. New 
Amsterdam became New York; Fort Orange was called 

24 



FOLLOWING IN THE WAKE OF HENRY HUDSON 

Albany; freedom of worship was granted the Lutherans 
and all others in the colony. Efforts were at once resumed 
to secure a minister from the mother country. The 
Lutheran people had formed a congregation, called 
Trinity, as early as 1649, if not earlier, and now united 
with the Ebenezer Lutheran Church of Albany in appeal- 
ing to the home Church at Amsterdam for a Lutheran 
pastor. For almost five years the correspondence con- 
tinued without results, but early in 1669 Pastor Jacob 
Fabritius arrived. He was a German, but sufficiently 
versed in the use of the Dutch language to satisfy his 
hearers. In his time the first Lutheran church was built. 
It stood outside of the walls of the town. A few years 
later this frame structure was torn down upon the demand 
of the civil authorities, as they claimed that the building 
interfered with the proper defence of the town. In- 
demnity was paid the congregation and a lot given them 
within the walls on Broadway. The work of Fabritius 
w T as not crowned with success, as his life and practice did 
not harmonize with his calling and preaching, and he was 
soon compelled to give up his field on account of his bad 
conduct. In later years he redeemed himself by his faith- 
ful services on the Delaware. Before leaving, he installed 
the new pastor that had come from Holland, Bernard An- 
ton Arens. He proved to be a genial, lovable, and faith- 
ful pastor, who served the people for twenty-five years or 
more, but like many of the prophets of old left no records 
of himself or his work. It is certain that he continued his 
services until his death, which must have occurred about 
1695. 

25 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

The Dutch language continued to be used in the services 
until 1 77 1, but with the arrival of the Germans, beginning 
with New Year's day, 1709, Dutch and German were 
both used in Trinity Church, causing considerable friction 
from time to time. English was also employed occasion- 
ally, and its use became more and more imperative. The 
Patriarch Muhlenberg served the congregation in 1751 
and 1752, and effectively preached in all three tongues. 
After 1 77 1, German became the prevailing language, but 
with the arrival of Dr. Kunze, in 1784, English services 
were permanently introduced. The history of the lan- 
guage question in New York is full of the spice of vari- 
ety, the myrrh of bitterness, the fire of contention, and 
the blood of litigation. 

The frame church erected on Broadway by the Trinity 
congregation about 1674 was repaired during the pastorate 
of Justus Falckner, and replaced by a large stone building 
in 1729 by the efforts of his brother, Daniel Falckner. 
Pastor Berkenmeyer assisted at the dedication. It is 
in this church that the patriarch preached in 1751. We 
reprint a picture of it from Dr. Schmauk's History with 
appreciative acknowledgments. 

The history of the growth of the Lutheran Church in 
New York and of the labors and achievements of her 
leaders is a long one and not without its interesting fea- 
tures. Dr. John Nicum has told the story in a scholarly 
way in his history of the New York Ministerium, and 
Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Wolf in their readable histories of 
the Lutheran Church in America. To these works and 
others within his reach my interested reader must turn if 

26 




Trinity Lutheran Church, 1729-84 

(After rude sketch made 1740) 

Formerly S. W„ Cor Broadway and Rector Streets 

New York City 



FOLLOWING IN THE WAKE OF HENRY HUDSON 

he desires to continue the study. Suffice it to say that 
on this soil lived and labored many earnest, self-sacrificing 
pioneers like Rudman, the two Falckners, Von Kocherthal, 
Berkenmeyer, and the Muhlenbergs, father and son; 
here, too, lived the first Lutheran theological professor 
who enjoyed a regular call with a promised salary, Dr. 
John Christopher Kunze; here, too, sprang up the first 
Lutheran theological seminary in America, styled Hart- 
wick Seminary, founded by one of the pioneer pilgrims of 
the Lutheran Church, John Christopher Hartwig; here, 
too, was organized the second Lutheran Synod in America, 
the Ministerium of New York. The expansion of our 
Church from these early days of small things and tre- 
mendous trials forms a long chapter of a remarkable 
growth and development, in spite of the severest struggles 
and direst disappointments, and it impresses upon us 
anew the injunction, " Despise not the day of small 
things." "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." 

27 



Ill 

CHRISTINA AND HER COLONY IN THE NEW 

WORLD 

When the famous Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus, 
lost his life at Lutzen in 1632, the heir to the throne was 
his little daughter Christina. She lacked just one month 
of being six years of age. Until her eighteenth birthday, 
the government was under the control of a board of chan- 
cellors, the chief of whom was the Prime Minister Oxen- 
stiern. 

Christina was a lovely little child, and grew up to be a 
queen of much grace and many accomplishments. She 
was beautiful, tender, sympathetic; her countenance 
changed with every new emotion; she showed much 
grace in her manners and her personal demeanor was very 
attractive; her voice was mild, though when occasion 
demanded she could use it with masculine strength. 
She loved virtue and was passionately fond of honor. 
She could speak Swedish, French, and German and read 
with ease both Latin and Greek. She was a great horse- 
woman, and no hunter in her kingdom was a better marks- 
man. A contemporary praises her for her gift of compre- 
hension and retentiveness of memory, her love for the 
society of learned men, and her desire for scientific dis- 
cussion and conversation. 

28 



CWLO 

m , | 



' • toted ly ; 



Where the Swedes Landed, March, 1638 



CHRISTINA AND HER COLONY IN THE NEW WORLD 

Her subjects loved her dearly, and when the two 
Swedish ships, "Key of Calmar" and "Griffin," sailing 
up the Delaware River turned into a stream toward the 
west, they named it in honor of their queen, Christina. 
They found an inviting landing place on a cluster of 
rocks on its banks and on an elevated triangle of land 
receding to the west and north they built a fort, likewise 
calling it Christina. Back of the fort they laid out their 
little town, under the direction of the engineer Kling, and 
called it Christinaham. Thus they tried to show their 
love for their young queen. 

The spot where they landed is marked by a stone 
hewed from the rock itself, and bears the following in- 
scription: 

THIS STONE IS A PORTION 

OF THE ROCKS ON WHICH LANDED 

THE FIRST SWEDISH COLONISTS 

IN AMERICA, 29 MARCH, 1 63 8. 

ON THIS SPOT STOOD 

FORT CHRISTINA. 

HERE THE SWEDES HELD THEIR FIRST 

CIVIL COURTS, AND IN THE CHAPEL OF 

THE FORT CELEBRATED THEIR FIRST 

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP OF 

THE NEW WT>RLD. 

ERECTED BY THE DELAWARE SOCIETY OF 

COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA, 

29 MARCH, I903. 

29 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

All through the early years of its existence, Christina 
gave her attention to this little colony in the Western 
Hemisphere, and her chancellors sent governors and 
ministers. The first governor was Peter Minuit and the 
first minister Reorus Torkillus. The civil leader was to 
rule the colony, preserve the peace and further the trade 
with the Indians. The pastor was to care for the spiritual 
welfare of the colonists and teach the natives the true way 
of life through Jesus. Minuit was a man well suited for 
his place, and he was acquainted with the country, and 
he proved himself a good leader in the construction of 
the fort and in the building of the humble dwelling- 
places of the settlers. He gave Fort Christina the benefit 
of his valuable experience secured at New Amsterdam. 

Torkillus was the first Swedish Lutheran minister to 
touch the soil of America. It is probable that he came 
with the first transport, under Minuit, in 1638, though 
the historian Norberg asserts that he did not arrive until 
1639. I cannot deny the assertion, but I love to think, 
with Campanius and Acrelius, that he came in the first 
vessel, and that thus side by side the civil and spiritual 
leaders accompanied and directed the colonists, and that 
when they reached their final landing-place, on the banks 
of the Christina, they knelt down, pastor and people, and 
thanked their Heavenly Father for their safe arrival on 
the shores of a friendly land. It can be safely said that no 
colony would be considered complete by Christina and 
her counsellors without a minister, who was to be a pastor 
for his countrymen and a missionary for the heathen 
Indians. Torkillus was a faithful minister. Before a 

30 



CHRISTINA AND HER COLONY IN THE NEW WORLD 

church could be built he gathered his parishioners together 
in the fort for worship. Thus he continued till the spring 
of 1643, when a dreadful scourge broke out among the 
colonists, sixteen of them dying, and the pastor suffered 
with the rest. He grew worse and worse, and on Sep- 
tember 7 th he died, at the early age of thirty-five, leaving 
a wife and one small child. They laid his body away with 
much sorrow in a small God's acre they had set apart on 
the high ground back of the fort. Forty-five years later, 
in building the stone church, the south wall was allowed 
to pass over his grave, forming a fitting monument to the 
departed pioneer. 

In the meantime, Queen Christina had sent Governor 
John Printz to the colony to succeed Minuit, who had lost 
his life on board of a ship on his way to Sweden. With 
him came another minister, w T hose name was John Cam- 
panius. After a long journey they reached Fort Christina 
February 15, 1643, so that the pastor was in the colony 
in time to minister to Torkillus and his people while he 
was unable to reach them. Campanius renewed and 
extended the missionary work among the Indians. He 
spent much time among them, learning their ways and 
customs and becoming acquainted with their language. 
He soon made himself understood, as much of the talking 
was done by gesticulation and object lessons, and a strong 
friendship was developed through him between the 
Swedish colonists and the Indians. The mutual con- 
fidence was never broken on either side, and when Penn 
arrived forty years later he found that the Indians had 
learned from the Swedish settlers to trust the white people, 

31 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

making it easy for him to conduct his negotiations of peace 
with them. To aid him in the work of teaching these 
children of the soil the wonderful way of truth as it is in 
Jesus, Campanius translated Luther's Small Catechism 
into the tongue of the Delaware Indians. It was the 
first work translated into an Indian dialect. Fifty years 
later King Charles of Sweden had the booklet printed 
for further use among the Indians in the colony. In the 
meantime Eliot had translated the Bible into the dialect 
of the Indians in Massachusetts, and it was published in 
book form some thirty years before the printing of the 
Catechism. It is evident, however, that the Swedes on 
their part labored for the conversion of the natives, and 
as a consequence the Swedes and the Indians always lived 
in peace together. 

The governor soon after his arrival changed his place 
of residence from Fort Christina to Tinicum Island in the 
Delaware River between Chester and Gloucester. It is 
now the site of the Lazaretto used for the quarantine of 
vessels bound for Philadelphia. Campanius accompanied 
him. Here a palatial residence was built for the governor, 
a fort for the defence of the colony, and a church for the 
work of Campanius. The church was the first one erected 
in New Sweden, and in the land that is now the State of 
Pennsylvania. It was consecrated September 4, 1646. 

Prosperous years of growth and development followed 
in the colony. There was peace with the Indians; no 
crop failures discouraged the sturdy colonists; a brisk and 
lucrative trade was carried on with, the natives; and as 
yet there was no serious trouble with neighboring settle- 

32 



CHRISTINA AND HER COLONY IN THE NEW WORLD 

ments. The colony slowly increased in numbers, so that 
by 1654 there were nearly five hundred inhabitants. 
Altogether nine transports had left Sweden for America 
with new settlers, provisions, implements, cattle, arms, 
and ammunition. Eight of these reached Fort Christina 
and Fort Tinicum, and greatly added to the convenience, 
protection, and wealth of the colony; the ninth was lost 
at sea. 

About this time many troubles arose in Sweden. In 
1654 Queen Christina abdicated the throne in favor of her 
lover-cousin, Charles Gustavus, and then left him and 
her country, recklessly spending thirty-five years in 
Brussels, Paris, and Rome amidst literary pursuits, sensual 
pleasures, court intrigues, and ambitious disappointments. 
One year after her abdication, Peter Stuyvesant came 
sailing up the Delaware with seven war vessels, conquered 
New Sweden and raised the Dutch flag over all the Swedish 
forts. Thus, after a dominion of seventeen years, the 
Swedish crown suddenly lost its power in the Western 
Hemisphere and it was never restored. Fortunately for 
our Lutheran settlers, Stuyvesant allowed them to retain 
their pastors and teachers and made no effort to establish 
the State Church of Holland. The civil history of New 
Sweden thus comes to an abrupt end, but the religious 
history continues for about one hundred and fifty years 
longer. 

33 



IV 

BEARERS OF LIGHT IN THE HOURS OF DARK- 
NESS 

When the crown of Sweden in 1655 surrendered her 
possessions in the New World, a period of spiritual dark- 
ness set in for her former subjects on the Delaware. The 
reason for this is not hard to find. One of the conditions 
of the surrender was that all that desired to do so could 
return to the mother country. The officers among the 
Swedes and other prominent colonists were not slow to 
avail themselves of this privilege. The Lutheran minis- 
ters, Holgh, Nerturius, and Matthias, also accepted the 
opportunity of returning home. Pastor Campanius had 
gone back to his native land several years before. Many 
of the remaining colonists declined to become subjects of 
Holland, sold their possessions and returned; others, 
however, were so pleasantly settled and so firmly estab- 
lished in the New World that with the promise of religious 
freedom they showed their readiness to remain in their 
present home. 

One minister only was left among the colonists. His 
name was Lawrence Lock. He had come over in the days 
of Governor Printz, and therefore was a witness to every 
governmental change in the colony, including the fall of 
the Dutch power in 1664, when they were conquered by 

34 



BEARERS OF LIGHT IN THE HOURS OF DARKNESS 

the English, and the arrival of William Penn in 1682. He 
alone of the spiritual advisers decided to remain and cast 
in his lot with his countrymen in the New World. Fur- 
ther help from Sweden, either in civil or religious matters, 
could no longer be looked for, and all depended upon the 
ministrations of this one minister. It was a large parish, 
and discouragements arose among the people. The 
Dutch government furnished neither pastors nor teachers. 
The people suffered for the want of both, and their children 
grew up without the spiritual care they needed. 

During the earlier days of his ministry Pastor Lock had 
but two preaching points, Fort Christina and Tinicum 
Island. The Dutch encouraged the settlement of Fort 
Casimir, now New Castle, and Swedes were attracted to 
this vicinity. A few were also pushing across the Delaware 
and settling in New Jersey. To accommodate the colo- 
nists better, a site was selected in the marshes south of 
the Christina River, at a point called Tranhook by the 
Dutch and Cranehook by the English; at the present time 
its name is Pigeon Point. It was less than two miles 
southeast of Fort Christina, and about four miles north of 
New Castle, on a point of land formed by the confluence 
of the Christina and Delaware Rivers. It could be con- 
veniently reached by water from all directions except 
the west, and was favorable for the Swedes living on the 
east bank of the Delaware in New Jersey. Here they 
built a wooden church, twenty-four feet square. It rested 
on four large bowlders, and at its side grew a massive 
buttonwood tree. The church was used for thirty-two 
years. Then it fell into decay, and its location was almost 

35 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

forgotten, but the oldest inhabitant remembered the tree, 
and the stump was found in the field. A few years ago a 
monument about five feet high was erected to mark the 
spot. We give a picture of the granite shaft which stands 
upon a knoll in the middle of a field a hundred yards from 
the road. The inscription it bears is as follows: 

This Stone 

Marks the Site of 

Cranehook Church 

Built 1667 

Erected by the Historical Society of 

Delaware, 1896 

In the meantime Swedes and Finns were settling farther 
to the north on the Delaware. Three brothers, by the 
name of Swenson, bought the land lying between the 
Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers. Others settled in the 
vicinity on both sides of the Schuylkill. Pastor Lock, to 
accommodate them, secured a blockhouse on Swenson's 
land fronting on the Delaware and converted it into a 
place of worship. Here he began to hold services in 1669. 
He did his part in rearing lighthouses of the gospel among 
his people. A picture of this blockhouse at Wicaco has 
been preserved and is given for the benefit of our readers. 
Sometimes blockhouses were built differently for the 
better defence of the colonists, as is seen from the follow- 
ing quotation from Acrelius: "The churches were so built 
that, after a suitable elevation, like any other house, a 
projection was made some courses higher, out of which 

36 




Site of Lutheran Church at Cranehook 




Block Church, at Wicaco 



BEARERS OF LIGHT IN THE HOURS OF DARKNESS 

they could shoot, so that if the heathen fell upon them, 
which could not be done without their coming up to the 
house, then the Swedes could shoot down upon them con- 
tinually, and the heathen, who used only bows and arrows, 
could do them little or no injury." 

For almost forty years Pastor Lock labored along the 
Delaware, holding regular services at his three churches. 
He had his troubles in his home and parish, which often 
interfered with his work, still he continued until feeble- 
ness of body and lameness of limb increased the infirmities 
of old age. He died in September, 1688. He bore the 
lamp of life until he could move no more. 

While he was still in active service, a Lutheran minister 
came from New York to New Castle, where his wife had 
property. It w r as Jacob Fabritius. He had installed 
his successor at New York and was now free to labor in 
another field. To what extent he assisted Pastor Lock at 
this time, which was in 167 1, is not known. But it is 
certain that he became acquainted throughout the whole 
district, and probably Pastor Lock was glad to have some 
assistance in his large parish and encouraged the visitor. 
Fabritius returned to New York in 1673, but in 1677, on 
Trinity Sunday, he preached his introductory sermon at 
the Wicaco block church. From this time on he served 
this congregation from his home, some miles above on 
the Delaware, now Kensington. Lock supplied Tinicum 
and Tranhook, and thus the work was cared for until 
Lock felt his strength insufficient for the journeys, and 
Fabritius supplied the whole parish, going from point to 
point in a canoe. He was a German, but had mastered 

37 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

the Dutch language in New York, and in his old age also 
acquired a knowledge of the Swedish sufficient for his 
pastoral ministrations. 

Is it not deserving of our attention, that these ministers 
of old were so ready to supply the gospel in the language 
required by their hearers? It finds its explanation in 
the nature of our Church. She is truly a Church for all 
people and her ministers labor in the unselfish spirit 
inculcated by her. 

Nine years before his death, Fabritius became blind. 
He still continued his work, engaging a guide to convey 
him from place to place and to lead him from house to 
house. Thus he lingered till 1696. During his last years 
he was unable to leave his home, and his parishioners were 
compelled to come to him for needed ministrations, like 
the baptism of their children, marriages, and other spirit- 
ual help. 

This man of many troubles and transgressions in his 
New York career, crowned the latter portion of his life 
with earnestness, self-denial, and fidelity covering many 
years and winning the respect, gratitude, and approbation 
of his parishioners. In an official letter written before his 
death it is said, "He is also an admirable preacher, but, 
God's blessing on him, he is so aged, and has lost his sight 
for so long a time; yet is he one who has taught us God's 
pure and true Word and administered the holy sacra- 
ments among us." Dr. Jacobs, in his "History of the 
Lutheran Church," speaks so generously and sympathet- 
ically of this pioneer and pilgrim that we shall place his 
words on record here. He says, page 57: "Let the name 

38 



BEARERS OF LIGHT IN THE HOURS OF DARKNESS 

of Jacob Fabritius be associated in the history of the 
Lutheran Church in America with the picture of an old 
man, chastened by his sorrows and penitent over the 
remembrance of his life in New York, rowed in a canoe 
from Kensington, his later residence, to his preaching 
places, or led to the pulpit by an attendant, to proclaim 
in imperfect Swedish the praises of the Saviour of sinners 
to the sinful and tempted, rather than that presented to 
us concerning his earlier years in this country. It is the 
glory of our holy religion that it is its special mission to 
produce such changes." 

It was growing darker and darker in the colony. The 
two light bearers could bear the light no longer. But even 
then there was faith among the colonists which sup- 
ported them. They believed in God and in His care for 
His destitute children. He came to their rescue, for, in 
the absence of ordained ministers, He made two laymen 
feel the Saviour's command, "Ye shall be witnesses unto 
me." He raised up a light bearer in each portion of the 
colony. In the upper part this servant whom the Lord 
called was Anders Bengtson. He is the forerunner of the 
Banksons of the present day, many of whom live in Phila- 
delphia and vicinity. He had come over in the ship 
"Mercurius," in 1656, which returned with its cargo of 
freight and passengers, because they found the Dutch 
government in control. Bengtson cast in his lot with his 
countrymen in the New World and remained. Upon the 
decline of the strength of Fabritius, he endeavored to keep 
the people together by holding lay services. He read the 
Scriptures and sermons, announced hymns and offered 

39 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

prayers. As far as possible he also tried to give instruc- 
tions to the young. His humble efforts were not appreci- 
ated by the younger portion of the flock, I regret to say, 
but he kept the flickering light from going out, and pre- 
vented darkness from closing in on the people. He was 
still living in 1703, an old Christian hero. 

Many years before, perhaps as early as 1680, a new- 
comer had arrived at Christina. He had come from the 
direction of Maryland, and, strange to say, he felt per- 
fectly at home among the Swedes, and decided to stay 
with them. He was comparatively a young man, well 
versed in both Swedish and English, and able to converse 
with the Indians. He soon told his interesting story. 
His name was Charles Christopher Springer. He was 
born in Sweden, and as a young man was in the employ 
of the Swedish consul at "London. While on the London 
streets one day he was kidnapped, carried off to sea and 
sold to a Virginia planter for five years' service. He 
served his master faithfully in the prosperous Virginia 
home, but when the term was completed he found his way 
to his countrymen on the Delaware, of whom he had heard 
during his service. He settled at Christina, married, and 
became one of the most active of the colonists, serving not 
only as lay reader and teacher for the people in the lower 
portion of the parish, but as secretary for the whole parish, 
as interpreter and as magistrate. He was a lifelong 
deacon in the Christina congregation, filling the post for 
forty-five years, if not longer. He became the father of a 
large American family, and was at one time the owner of 
much of the land on which Wilmington is now located. 

40 



BEARERS OF LIGHT IN THE HOURS OF DARKNESS 

He lived to be eighty years old, and died in 1738. Him 
God raised up to be a light bearer in the hours of darkness 
in the colony, and standing side by side with Bengtson he 
labored to keep the people in the faith. By the efforts 
of these two men the churches were kept open till others 
appeared to bear the light. In spite of their untiring work, 
all was very discouraging. The growing youth neglected 
their opportunities of worship and failed to attend the 
services. This caused great grief in the hearts of their 
elders. But they knew that the night would come to an 
end, and it did. 

Before closing this chapter of Church history, we must 
ask the reader to linger a moment in thought and admira- 
tion over the true story of these four men that nobly 
served their generation in the time of darkness. In deep 
appreciation of the services of these worthy pioneers are 
these words written. May they help to rear a monument 
of gratitude in our hearts sacred to their memory, and 
teach us a lesson of loving loyalty to the Church they 
loved so much! 

41 






V 
MORNING BREAKS UPON THE GLOOM 

Midsummer's day, June 24, 1697, was a day of bright 
sunshine in the Swedish colony on the Delaware. Heavy 
rains had fallen during the past days and weeks, but this 
day everything was joy and happiness. Messengers 
were running to all parts of the country and the tidings 
which they bore were all the same. Three missionaries 
had come from Sweden. The long night was gone and 
every heart was glad. The king of Sweden had sent these 
men in the name of the crown to his countrymen in the 
New World to bear the light of the gospel in the midst of 
them and to teach the Indians around them the way of 
life. 

How had it all been brought about? The answer might 
make a long story, for it runs over the space of well-nigh 
fifteen years. In the first place, William Penn, upon his 
return to England, informed the Swedish authorities in 
London of the spiritual needs of their countrymen in his 
province of Pennsylvania. A few years later a nephew 
of the former Governor Printz, Andrew Printz by name, 
visited Philadelphia and found the Swedes there and 
noticed their desire for religious teachers. When he 
reached his home he related his experience to the post- 
master of Gothenburg, John Thelin, who had the informa- 

42 



MORNING BREAKS UPON THE GLOOM 

tion about the needs of the pious and God-fearing Swedes 
brought to the attention of King Charles. The king took 
a great deal of interest in the matter, and in spite of all 
his civil and military affairs at once promised to send 
both ministers and books, whereupon Thelin addressed 
a letter of inquiry to the Swedes upon the Delaware, which 
reached them May 21, 1693. Charles Springer called all 
the colonists together and with their help he sent a long 
letter in reply, giving in detail all the information asked 
for and making humble request for two ministers and a 
number of books for use in home and church. Upon re- 
ceipt of this letter in Sweden, the king gave orders for the 
selection of ministers, for the publication of five hundred 
copies of Luther's Catechism, translated into the dialect 
of the Indians by Campanius, and for the purchase of 
books desired by the colonists. The prayerful patience 
of the pious believers had its reward at last. 

The three missionaries had left the presence of the king 
the year before their arrival, and after spending several 
months in London, where they made much progress in the 
study of the English language, had set sail for America in 
February, 1697, arriving in the Chesapeake Bay in June. 
It took them several days to ascend the bay, but when 
they reached Annapolis they were very cordially received 
by the governor, Francis Nicholson. At the end of 
four days he bade them Godspeed and sent them at his 
own expense in a boat heavily laden with provisions to 
the Elk River, which was the nearest landing place to the 
Swedish colony. Here they found some of their country- 
men living, and they were rejoiced to see them. Friend- 

43 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

ships were formed that were never forgotten by the 
missionaries. At the earliest possible moment they were 
conducted to the heart of the colony at Christina. It was 
midsummer's day. 

One of the ministers described their reception in the 
following words: "Before we had been there a day and a 
night, the people flocked in great numbers to see us; they 
came from a distance of ten or twelve Swedish miles in 
order to conduct us to their place of meeting. They 
welcomed us with great joy, and would hardly believe we 
had arrived until they saw us." 

Several days were spent in becoming acquainted with 
the people living in the vicinity of Christina. On the 
first Sunday only a small meeting of prayer and thanks- 
giving was held, as the church at Tranhook was surrounded 
by water on account of a freshet. On Tuesday, June 29th, 
they went to Philadelphia for the first time and presented 
their passports to the Lieutenant Governor William 
Markham. He received them with much kindness and 
encouraged them in their mission. 

On Wednesday of the same week they held their first 
public meeting in the block church at Wicaco and presented 
all their credentials to the people, reading the letters and 
all the papers they had from the king and others in au- 
thority in Sweden. Then they returned to Christina and 
on Friday did the same thing in the Tranhook Church. 
Sunday, July 4th, the religious services were begun in the 
Wicaco Church, and the following Sunday at Tranhook. 
The pastors now felt ready to begin their work with 
earnestness and enthusiasm. The books which they had 

44 



MORNING BREAKS UPON THE GLOOM 

brought with them were distributed to the best advantage 
of the people. The five hundred Indian catechisms were 
carefully reserved for use as the opportunities would 
present themselves, though some copies were called into 
immediate service, as the colonists lived on very friendly 
terms with their neighbors, could converse with them and 
were glad to get this book to assist in giving them spiritual 
instruction. Charles Springer was engaged by the Indians 
themselves to read and explain the Catechism. It de- 
lighted them to know that the king had sent them a book 
in their own language. Only in eternity shall we learn 
how many souls of the red men were brought to the 
knowledge of the truth through this little manual of our 
true religion. 

But now it is time for us to become acquainted with 
these three bearers of light on the Delaware. The first 
was the king's own selection, and his name was 

Andrew Rudman. 

To him was assigned the church at Wicaco, near to 
which the "clever little town" of Philadelphia had sprung 
up. He also preached at Tinicum. He was a very pious 
and lovable man, but not strong physically. He made 
many friends among the English-speaking people, and 
labored arduously for the advancement of his own flock. 
In spite of the greatest difficulties he accomplished much 
good. But he had to contend with the weakness of his 
body, and he early petitioned the king to allow him to 
return to Sweden. Before he left his home he extracted 
a promise from the archbishop of Sweden to allow him to 

45 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

return in the course of a few years with the guarantee of a 
suitable appointment in the home Church. His request 
was granted and a successor had arrived. But in the 
meantime he had married Miss Mattson, the daughter of 
a Swedish colonist, and she preferred to remain in her 
native land. Then, too, it was hard in those days to 
arrange for the journey across the wide, wide ocean. 
After the arrival of his successor he allowed himself to be 
prevailed upon by the Dutch Lutherans of New York to 
come and preach for them, as they were without a pastor, 
and the man with his large heart but weak body con- 
sented. 

Let us not pass too hurriedly over this item in Rud- 
man's biography. This Swedish minister, who had 
already made considerable progress in the use of German 
and English, and had accepted every opportunity of 
holding services in these two languages, now undertook 
to learn and use the Dutch tongue. All honor to this 
noble pioneer! 

Rudman labored in New York for eighteen months, 
suffering from the severity of the climate and almost 
losing his life in a yellow fever epidemic. He returned in 
the fall of 1703, secured a successor for New York, and 
labored for almost five years more in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia, preaching in three languages under the 
greatest difficulties, with many hardships, and in spite of 
bodily weakness and consuming disease. Wearied, worn 
and worried , his frail body at last refused to continue 
the struggle. When he died his colleagues and friends 
committed his body to the ground in front of the chancel 

46 



MORNING BREAKS UPON THE GLOOM 

in the church he had built. Over his grave they placed 
a tablet with the following inscription: 

"this marble covers the remains of rev'rend 
andrew rudman. being sent hither from sweden, 
he first founded and built this church; w r as a con- 
stant, faithful preacher in the english, swedish 
and dutch churches eleven years in this country, 
where he advanced true piety by sound doctrine 
and good example. he died sep. 1 7, 1708. aged 40 

YEARS." 

He left a widow and two daughters. His daughter 
Catherine in later years became the wife of the Swedish 
pastor, Tranberg. Magdalen reached the age of seventy 
years, and Muhlenberg might have known her, as she lived 
to see the year 1769. 

Jonas Aureen 

is the second of the three that came to the colony of 
Lutherans on the Delaware. He belonged to a family with 
whom the king was personally acquainted, and was sent 
not as a missionary but as the personal agent of the king 
to make a study of the land and of the people and to return 
at an early day to make his report. That he might be of 
greater service on this journey he was ordained before 
leaving home. 

He never returned to Sweden. The reason is near at 
hand. Among the first information received after reach- 
ing the colony was that King Charles had died. Aureen 
felt free to remain, and he made his home in the New 

47 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

World. No preaching place was assigned to him in the 
first years of his stay in America, and he returned to the 
place where the missionaries had landed on the Elk River 
and lived there. He spent an earnest, active life, devoting 
much of his time to the conversion of the Indians. His 
missionary labors carried him far into the country, reach- 
ing points that are now in Lancaster and Chester Counties. 
No doubt he made abundant use of the Catechism brought 
from Sweden. 

He was early influenced by the Sabbatarians in the 
colony, and adopted their false ideas of setting aside Satur- 
day as the true day of worship instead of Sunday. This 
caused his two colleagues much grief, and Rudman before 
going to New York warned his people against accepting 
the erroneous doctrine. The other missionary wrote a 
kind and peaceful English tract in reply to his teachings. 
In 1706 the Swedes in New Jersey needing a pastor called 
Aureen. He laid the matter before the pastor at Christina 
and the governor of New York, and received instructions 
to observe Saturday for himself, if he desired to do so, but 
to minister to the parish as was customary on the Lord's 
Day. This he consented to do and there was no further 
trouble. For almost seven years he ministered faithfully 
to his people, until he died February 17, 1713, leaving a 
wife and two small children. His grave, unmarked and 
unknown, is in the God's acre of the Raccoon Church, now 
Swedesboro, New Jersey. 

Thus two of the three ministers helped to consecrate 
the American soil by entrusting their bodies to its bosom 
to await the resurrection to life everlasting. 

48 



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Rev. Ericus Tobias Biorck 



VI 

THE GREATEST OF THE THREE 

In these sketches of the Swedes on the Delaware, our 
readers have become acquainted with two of the mission- 
aries sent to the New World by King Charles XI, Rudman 
and Aureen. It is now time to introduce the third and to 
speak of his work. His name is Ericus Tobias Bjorck, 
commonly called Eric Biorck. The surname, no doubt, 
was pronounced as though spelt Bee-erk, with the accent 
on the first syllable. He was the greatest of the three in 
length of service and in abundance of labors; in his earnest- 
ness and faithfulness, he was not surpassed by the others. 
To him was assigned the lower part of the parish, which 
worshiped at the Tranhook Church. For several years 
he also crossed the Delaware and preached at Penn's 
Neck, in West Jersey. 

Biorck spent seventeen years in this country and had 
the pleasure of seeing his many efforts productive of rich 
results. Troubles and difficulties there were without 
number, but his patient and tactful work removed or 
overcame them. Three duties presented themselves 
clearly to his view from the start, and to their performance 
he devoted himself earnestly and persistently. First, the 
improvement of the attendances demanded his attention, 
and having secured the presence of his people at the 

49 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

services, he instructed them in the proper way and spirit 
of worship. He urged all to come, especially the young, 
and trained them in singing and endeavored to instill in 
them the true idea of worshiping God in the home and in 
the sanctuary. 

In the second place, he gave himself to the instruction of 
the members in secular and religious knowledge. Among 
the books the missionaries had brought with them were 
primers and readers. These he distributed so that one 
copy at least should be in each home. Where possible, he 
arranged for the holding of school for the children through- 
out the colony. Only three Swedish books were found 
when the missionaries arrived, and the young people had 
had a very poor chance to learn to read and write. In 
spite of Mr. Springer's efforts to educate the young, but 
few were found who were not deplorably lacking in their 
learning. 

The efforts of Pastor Biorck to increase the knowledge of 
his people in the Bible were as unique as they were suc- 
cessful. At the first regular service that he held at the 
Tranhook Church, July n, 1697, he announced that he 
would begin with the reading of the Bible as a part of 
their weekly worship, one chapter in the Old Testament 
and one in the New, and thus continue until he had pub- 
licly read the whole Bible. This was a large undertaking, 
was it not? Would he persevere to the end? He had the 
courage to try, and the pious persistency to continue, and 
he succeeded. In his journal he carefully noted his prog- 
ress, and we can follow him as he goes on chapter by 
chapter and book by book. In his own reverent way, in the 

50 



THE GREATEST OF THE THREE 

flowing beauty of the Swedish tongue, which is called the 
French of the North on account of its mellow sweetness, 
he read the majestic words of the first chapter of Genesis: 

"in the beginning god created the heaven and 
the earth. and the earth was without form and 
void; and darkness was upon the pace of the deep, 
and the spirit of god moved upon the face of the 
waters. and god said, let there be light: and there 
was light." 

In five weeks he reached these beautiful words found 
in the fifth chapter of St. Matthew: 

"YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY THAT IS 
SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HID. NEITHER DO MEN LIGHT 
A CANDLE AND PUT IT UNDER A BUSHEL, BUT ON A CANDLE- 
STICK; AND IT GIVETH LIGHT UNTO ALL THAT ARE IN THE 
HOUSE. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT 
THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR 
FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN." 

He faithfully continued to read in this order until the 
ninth of October, 1701, when he rejoiced to read the 
blessed words with which the New Testament ends: 

"HE THAT TESTIFIETH THESE THINGS SAITH, SURELY I 
COME QUICKLY; ALIEN. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS. 
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WTTH YOU ALL. 

AMEN." 

The day he read the last chapter of the New Testament, 
he read the fourteenth of first Samuel in the Old, so that 
he still had two-thirds of the first part of the Bible to read. 

51 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

In order to further his progress, he now began with the 
first chapter of Isaiah, and each Sunday he read one chap- 
ter in order from Genesis and one in the prophets. 

It took more than a year to pass through the majestic 
chapters of Isaiah. Pastor and people entered deeply 
into the spirit of these beautiful words and listened with 
solemn reverence to the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah and the 
other prophets. Thus he continued without interruption. 
When he reached the Psalms, he often read a number of 
them together. The day the one hundred and nineteenth 
was read, he selected no lesson from the prophets, but 
even then it made a long selection, but there was no clock 
in the church and dinner could wait better than the food 
of heaven. 

On Sunday, August 31, 1707, which was the twelfth 
Sunday after Trinity, he was able to make the following 
entry in his records: 

"The twelfth Sunday I finished the reading of the 
whole Bible, both the Old and New Testament for the 
first time, which I began the year I came here. ... In 
concluding, I remarked that those who had been diligent 
and punctual might say confidently that at least they had 
heard the whole Bible read once in their lifetime from 
beginning to end, while those who have been negligent, 
could not say so. But many who heard the beginning and 
a part thereof are now dead, but it is to be hoped that they 
are in greater knowledge than we can be who remain. 
. . . The thirteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity Sunday, I 
began again in the name of the Lord, which is the second 
time of the reading of the Bible in the church." 

52 



THE GREATEST OF THE THREE 

All honor to this noble man for his perseverance. He 
had his reward. But we must hasten on to what he found 
his third great duty and upon which rests his reputation as 
a great worker. It was the selection of a new site for a 
church and its construction. From the time of his arrival 
in the field, he was made to feel that Tranhook was un- 
suitable, if for no other reason than that it was surrounded 
by marshes, which were frequently inundated. It is true 
the people had become attached to this location and had 
bought a farm of one hundred acres near the church for 
the use of the minister. The pastor persuaded them, how T - 
ever, that it was suitable for neither church nor parsonage. 
In a short time, all parties were reconciled to the change 
of location. A prominent site was selected back of the 
old fort, on the ground used for burial purposes, and the 
work of building the church was begun. To satisfy the 
members living near New Castle, a free ferry was estab- 
lished across the Christina, and to retain the good will of 
the people living in West Jersy, the pastor promised to 
hold occasional services in their community. 

The building of the church was a tremendous undertak- 
ing for Biorck. Every step demanded his personal care, 
attention, and encouragement. Many different opinions 
were prevalent among his parishioners, and to establish 
any degree of unanimity among them demanded the wisest 
generalship. Many of his members would have been satis- 
fied with a wooden church, as the three others that had 
been erected in the colony were but blockhouses. They 
yielded to his persuasion and decided to use stone. The 
dimensions suggested by the pastor were far beyond the 

53 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

vision of his people. Starting with what the most liberal 
among them suggested, twenty by thirty, and twelve feet 
high, he twice persuaded them to consent to increase the 
dimensions, until finally the figures in the contract were 
thirty by sixty feet, inside measurements, with walls 
twenty feet high. 

During the early months of the year 1698, the colonists 
brought the stone from a neighboring farm near the banks 
of the Brandywine on sleds or sledges. It is a very 
substantial blue granite, and the Brandywine is famous 
for it to this day. Saturday, May the twenty-eighth, the 
first stone was laid in the trenches dug with great care for 
the church. It was a happy day. Both Mr. Rudman 
and Mr. Aureen were present to share the joy with the 
pastor. Upon the foundation, walls were built three feet 
thick up to the window sills and from this line two feet 
thick. We find this happy record in the journal: "The 
twelfth of August, Friday, the mason work was happily 
finished twenty feet high all around — Glory to God!" 
After this was done a new contract was made with the 
same mason for building the gable ends and plastering the 
whole interior. This work was finished December 24th, 
of this memorable year, 1698. The rest of the winter and 
the whole of the spring were consumed in putting on the 
roof and in finishing the woodwork of the interior, with the 
furniture, painting, and all that had to be done. The 
blacksmith made iron figures and letters for the inscrip- 
tions placed on the outside walls, some of which can still 
be seen at the present time. 

The fourth Sunday after Easter the last service was held 

54 



THE GREATEST OF THE THREE 

in the Tranhook Church. By Trinity Sunday, which 
fell on the fourth of June, the new church was ready to be 
consecrated to the worship of the Triune God. All three 
of the missionaries were again together, and conducted the 
services with all the reverence and solemnity they could 
command. Pastor Rudman preached the morning ser- 
mon, taking for his text: "The Lord hath done great 
things for us, whereof we are glad." A second service 
was held in the afternoon and pastor Aureen preached. 
In honor of the day, the church was named Holy Trinity, 
which was later incorporated in the charter, where to 
this day it remains as follows: "Swedes Lutheran Church, 
called Trinity Church." 

In late years difficulty has arisen in regard to the 
proper date of its dedication. It was in the year 1699, 
and on Trinity Sunday. These two facts are undis- 
puted. In the records, emphasis is laid on the fes- 
tival on which it was dedicated, and it is probable that 
the pastor had this day reserved for a long time for 
this important event. The date is given in the records 
as June the fourth, but in transcribing the name of the 
month, an error has frequently been made, and June the 
fourth becomes July the fourth. This has led many of 
our church historians to go into ecstasy over the pro- 
phetic character of the day. There is some excuse 
for the mistake, as the writing of the word June in the 
original does, indeed, resemble the word July as we write 
it in English script. It cannot be July, however, as it 
was on Trinity Sunday that the event took place, and this 
festival never occurs as late as the fourth of July. Easter 

55 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

in 1699, as we learn from papers, calenders and documents 
of that year, fell on the ninth of April. Counting from 
this date forward, we find that Trinity Sunday was on the 
fourth of June. July fourth that year fell on Tuesday. 
Other proofs can be given to substantiate this conclusion, 
and there can be no doubt of its correctness. It was the 
greatest day in the history of the Swedish colony up to 
this time, and we can all rejoice that we have it in its 
correct form. 

For over two hundred years this memorable edifice 
has been preserved, and gives promise of standing for 
generations to come. The blue granite of which it is built 
makes it look indestructible. It reflects great credit upon 
the pastor and people that reared it. Since the time of its 
construction, two porticoes have been added to strengthen 
the side walls, and a belfry has been built to the west end. 
We give our readers a good picture of it as it appears to- 
day, with its surrounding cemetery. It is the oldest land- 
mark of the Protestant Church in the Western Hemisphere, 
and inasmuch as it was built by these sturdy Swedish 
Lutherans, all our readers can have a just pride in the 
wonderful achievement. 

It well deserves a visit from all who can find their way 
to the beautiful city of Wilmington on the Delaware. It 
fills the soul with reverence to walk around these ancient 
walls and to wander through the paths of the resting place 
of these departed pioneers of the Lutheran Church. It 
is a matter of record that Muhlenberg visited the church 
to attend a conference. How reverently he must have 
walked about these sacred walls! 

56 



THE GREATEST OF THE THREE 

At the altar of this house of worship that was so dear to 
him, Biorck served for almost fifteen years with great joy. 
He outlived both his colleagues. Rudman was the first 
to give way to the demands of his service, and it became 
the duty of Biorck to preach the sermon at his funeral, 
which he did in the English language, in the Wicaco 
Church. He based his words on the text selected by 
Rudman himself, Psalm 73, verse 24, "Thou shalt guide 
me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." 
A few years later, February 17, 17 13, Aureen died, and 
Biorck sadly notes the event with the following medita- 
tion: "And so Raccoon Creek is again without a minister, 
and of the three sent over here by God and the authori- 
ties, I alone remain, by the good pleasure of God, while 
the other two, who confidently expected to go back to 
their earthly fatherland, must lay their weary bones in 
this wilderness. What God will be pleased to do with me, 
time will tell. Let His will be done." 

Instructions to return home to Sweden reached Biorck 
as early as 1709, and shortly afterwards his successor 
arrived on the ground. On account of his family, he could 
not arrange to leave for some time, and it was June 29, 
1 7 14, just seventeen years after his arrival, that his 
departure was made. He took with him his wife and 
five children, an adopted orphan child, and his brother- 
in-law and wife. His oldest son afterwards wrote a history 
of New Sweden. 

Biorck continued his labors for many years in Sweden, 
and never lost his love for the Christina congregation. 
In 1728, when he was sixty years old, his picture was 

. 57 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

painted, and a copy found its way to America. He died 
full of labors and crowned with honors, in 1740. In two 
hemispheres are the scenes of his activity and in two hemi- 
spheres does he deserve to be remembered for his noble 
deeds of foresight, self-sacrifice, love, zeal, and piety. 

58 



VII 

THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILA- 
DELPHIA 

Philadelphia is an old and honored city. The first 
stones of its foundation were laid in the interests of mutual 
prosperity, religious freedom, and civil liberty. No other 
American city founded in the seventeenth century can be 
mentioned that has a record as unselfish and untarnished 
as that of the City of Brotherly Love. In its relation 
to the Indians, in its bearing toward the settlers found on 
the ground, in its dealings with the members of its own 
community, its history is free from all oppression and 
bloodshed. There are two reasons for this: first, William 
Penn brought an honest, peace-loving people with him; 
and, second, he found settlers occupying the ground 
equally honest and peace-loving, though entirely different 
in language, customs, and religion. 

All Lutheran readers are interested in the people who 
greeted Penn when he disembarked on the shores of the 
Delaware in 1682. They were the Swedish settlers, our 
religious ancestors in America. They received him with a 
warm welcome, helped him to unload his ships, and gave 
him and his companions the benefit of their forty years' 
possession of the land he came to occupy. 

59 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Penn bought from the three Swedish brothers, by the 
name of Svenson (Swanson Street of South Philadelphia is 
justly named after them), the land on which he wished to 
lay out the city of Philadelphia, giving them other land 
instead. The Swedes acted as his interpreter in his deal- 
ings with the Indians, and because they had taught the 
Indians by word and example to trust the white men, 
Penn was eminently successful and gained an undying 
name for his kind dealings with the natives. More honor 
belongs to the Swedes than to Penn, but Penn receives it in 
undiminishing quantities. It is true he was a remarkable 
man, but it is also true that he was very fortunate in 
finding these Swedish Lutherans in the New World and to 
them the noted Quaker largely owes his success. 

For four decades before Penn's arrival the Swedes had 
labored to improve the material and spiritual condition 
of themselves and of the Indians about them. They had 
cleared the forests, built homes and churches, cultivated 
gardens and fields, planted orchards, established an ex- 
tensive trade with the Indians, acquired their patois, 
smoked the pipe of peace, nourished the spirit of friendship 
and harmony with them and won their trust and confi- 
dence, so that the two races lived on friendly terms to- 
gether. The Swedes had built the first house of worship 
on the land that became the province of Pennsylvania, 
and the preaching point, Wicaco, was not far from Penn's 
landing place. At the time of his arrival there were two 
Lutheran ministers in the colony, and several laymen were 
instructing the children and Indians in the Christian relig- 
ion and in assisting in laying out lands and in preserving 

60 



THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA 

and furthering the peace and welfare of the colonists. 
Penn was surprised to find these favorable conditions and 
freely and generously expressed his appreciation. In a 
letter to England he wrote: 

"The Swedes are a plain, strong, industrious people. 
. . . They kindly received me, not less so than the English, 
who were few before the people concerned with me came 
among them. I must needs commend their respect to 
authority and kind behaviour to the English. They do 
not degenerate from the old friendship between both 
kingdoms. As they are a people proper and strong of 
body, so have they fine children, and almost every house 
full; rare to find one of them without three or four boys, 
and as many girls; some six, seven and eight sons. And 
I must do them that right — I see few young men more 
sober and industrious." 

We are glad to have this outside testimony of the 
character and industry of these Swedish Lutheran settlers. 
It shows that we are not extravagant in our praises of 
them. They found a place both in the General Assembly 
and in the Governor's Council in the early days of the 
establishment of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and 
filled many positions of honor and usefulness among the 
people. 

Lars Koch was sent to Penn's meeting held at Upland 
immediately after his arrival and he and Anders Bengtson, 
Sven Svenson and Adam Peterson were members of the 
Assembly. In a letter written from London, Mar. 16, 1684, 
Penn writes: " Salute me to the Swedes, Captain Koch, 
Old Peter Koch, Rambo and his son, the Svensons, 

61 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Anders Bengtson, P. Yokum and the rest of them. Their 
ambassador dined with me the other day." 

This sudden development of Penn's colony had its 
influence upon the Swedes. They were now in a land that 
had a future and they realized that they must grow with it. 
Though it was all dark about them in a religious sense 
when Penn arrived, and their condition was now rapidly 
growing worse, as both their ministers were becoming 
wholly disabled for service, yet with the arrival of their 
new ministers in 1697, the bright light of day burst upon 
them and they kept in advance of the progress made in 
the colony, for it was not long before they had built one 
of the largest and finest churches in America. Pastor 
Rudman led the way and proposed to replace the block 
house at Wicaco with a large and substantial house of 
worship. The location of the Wicaco Church in Rud- 
man's judgment was the most suitable and convenient 
for the people. His choice, however, met with much oppo- 
sition as many of the Swedes had become so closely at- 
tached to the church on Tinicum Island, that they were 
determined that the new edifice should be there or no- 
where. Rudman felt that this would be a great mistake. 
His people failed to agree among themselves and lost a 
whole year in discussions and dissensions. Rudman 
gave up in despair and left his parish, finding a refuge in 
the home of his colleague Biorck at Christina. They 
exchanged pulpits. It happened that Biorck preached on 
the tenth Sunday after Trinity, when taking for his sub- 
ject the one suggested by the gospel of the day, Christ 
weeping over Jerusalem, he touched and moved the 

62 




Gloria Dei, Philadelphia 



THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA 

unyielding hearts of Rudman's parishioners. They agreed 
to leave the selection of the site to the three Swedish 
ministers, whom we have learned to know by name, and 
pledged themselves to abide by their decision. Wicaco 
was unanimously selected. The choice was a wise one. 
It was a prominent location, as near Philadelphia as the 
homes of the Swedes would allow, and in full view of the 
Delaware River, where every incoming ship could easily 
see the church that would be built there. A burial place 
had already been begun on the site. 

Rudman was encouraged and lost no time in beginning 
the work of building the church. He could not equal the 
work done at Christina because the beautiful blue granite 
was wanting; still for the time the edifice he succeeded in 
erecting attracted much attention. It was of the same 
dimensions as the Christina Church, thirty by sixty feet, 
but the two corners to the east were shortened, thus giving 
the east end of the church an hexagonal form. It was 
built of brick, each alternate one glazed black. The side 
porticoes were added a few years later to strengthen the 
walls. The belfry to the west is also a later addition. It 
was dedicated the first Sunday after Trinity, June 2, 1700, 
and called Gloria Dei Church. This date is often given 
as July 2d, but this cannot be correct, as Easter in that 
year fell on March 3 1st. This would make Trinity Sunday 
May 26th, and the first Sunday after Trinity June 2d. 
As in the case of the Christina Church, it is an error of 
transliteration followed by many historians. Fortunately 
the mistake has not affected the life of the congregation, 
as the anniversary of the dedication is celebrated yearly 

63 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

on the first Sunday after Trinity, irrespective of the day 
of the month. In 191 2 it occurred on June 9th. For 
many years the churches at Wicaco and Christina were the 
largest and finest public buildings in the American colonies. 
For one hundred and thirty years Lutheran ministers 
preached the gospel of Christ within the walls of Gloria 
Dei Church in three languages, Swedish, German, and 
English, and since the death of the last Swedish minister, 
Dr. Collin, services have been continuously held under 
the auspices of the Episcopal Church. 

We present a good picture of Gloria Dei Church, 
showing it as it now appears. This noble monument of 
Lutheran history has weathered the storms of over two 
centuries, resisted all powers of atmospheric destruction, 
and escaped all calamities by fire and water. May it 
stand for many years to come surrounded by its monu- 
ments of the departed! Homes and industries are crowd- 
ing close upon it and it is not without danger of destruc- 
tion by fire. It was on January 23 d, in the year in which 
we are writing (191 2) that a fire broke out in one of 
the neighboring factories and threatened the sacred old 
edifice with destruction, but by the foresight and vigilance 
of the brave fire-fighters the flames were driven back and 
the building saved, though the conflagration so near it 
raged furiously for several hours. What an irreparable 
loss the tongues of flame might have produced! 

It is a building of historic interest, not only because 
it touches the seventeenth century (and we are now in the 
twentieth) but also on account of the important events 
that have taken place within its walls. In this respect 

64 



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Interior of Gloria Dei, Philadelphia 



THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA 

its history is of greater significance than that of the Chris- 
tina Church. Philadelphia has always been nearer the 
center of religious and civil activity than Wilmington, in 
consequence of which Gloria Dei Church has a more varied 
history, full of events of undying interest in the history of 
colonial Lutheranism. Of these significant occurrences we 
shall speak of but three. 

Within the walls of Gloria Dei was celebrated the 
first Protestant ordination in America. It w T as a Lutheran 
ordination service, and no doubt it was one of the greatest 
acts ever performed in this house of worship. As long as 
there are hands to write the history of the Lutheran 
Church in America and eyes and hearts to read and love 
what is written, this memorable act will not be forgotten. 
Dr. Sachse thought it of sufficient importance to issue a 
very extensive and magnificent volume to commemorate 
the two hundredth anniversary of the great event. 

Wednesday, November 24, 1703, the three Swedish 
ministers, Rudman, Biorck and Sandel, with the full 
authority of the mother Church in Sweden, solemnly 
ordained to the gospel ministry in the Lutheran Church 
a young German student of theology, Justus Faickner by 
name, for the Dutch Lutherans scattered throughout 
northern New Jersey and eastern New York. Please 
notice the array of languages, to which might be added the 
fact that the service, no doubt, was conducted in the 
Latin language, with possibly an address in English 
by one of the three ministers. It was a solemn, dignified 
service. A number of German Pietists had come from 
their settlement on the Wissahickon to assist in the 

65 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

ordination by chanting appropriate psalms. Indians at- 
tracted by the unusual event were also in the congrega- 
tion. This act speaks volumes for the love, foresight, and 
broadmindedness of all the brethren uniting in the service. 
The love for the scattered sheep of many tongues and 
many races appealed strongly to these early missionaries 
of our Church. When Rudman found that on account of 
the weakness of his body, produced by the ravages of 
yellow fever, he could no longer minister to the Dutch 
congregations in the vicinity of New York, he urged this 
German student to consent to be ordained that he might 
serve them. Though he had left Germany to escape the 
public work of the ministry, he yielded, learned the new 
tongue, and labored most faithfully for twenty years in 
this large and scattered field, extending along the Hudson 
from New York to Albany. Were they not noble men? 
They were but acting in accord with the genius of the 
Church to which they belonged and in harmony with the 
Spirit of the Master whose they were and whom they 
served. How we must love and admire them for their 
earnest concern for the scattered sheep of the Lutheran 
Church in colonial times! 

Falckner was a talented, pious, and capable man. 
Before he came to America he wrote a hymn which has 
lived to our day and has been translated into English by 
several writers. It is a hymn of encouragement in the 
Christian warfare and is based on the words of Ephesians 
6 : 10. It is No. 331 in the Kirchenbuch. In keeping 
his ministerial records, Falckner added prayers of a deep 
devotional spirit to many of his entries of baptisms, con- 

66 



THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA 

firmations and marriages. He is the author of the first 
theological book issued in the Lutheran Church of America. 
It is in the Dutch language and is entitled " Fundamental 
Instruction in Christian Doctrine." He died in 1723. 
His burial place is unknown, but he still lives in the 
memory of grateful spiritual heirs. 

From 1703 let us move forward to 1742. It is Decem- 
ber 27th. The great patriarch of the Lutheran Church, 
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, has been in America for a 
little over a month. He had preached for the first time in 
Philadelphia Sunday, December 5th. In the morning 
the service was held in the usual meeting place of the 
Germans over an old carpenter shop, and in the afternoon 
in the Wicaco Church. 

The Swedes were at this time without a pastor and were 
glad to let the Germans use their sanctuary. Muhlen- 
berg had been accepted as pastor at two of the three points 
of his parish, New Hanover and New Providence (the 
Trappe), but at Philadelphia he found a rival in the per- 
son of a certain domineering dominie by the name of Kraft. 
To settle the question of authority, Muhlenberg in a 
Latin letter requested Pastor Tranberg of the Christina 
Church to come to Philadelphia at his convenience and 
publicly examine his credentials. The time decided upon 
was the date given above. Kraft had also been requested 
to be present and show his papers, but found it convenient 
to leave for the country. Peter Koch, a leading layman 
among the Swedes, was present; and a large number 
of German Lutherans, among them a prominent sugar 
refiner, Henry Schleydorn by name, had assembled. 

67 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Muhlenberg gives the following account of the important 
meeting: 

"After I had preached a short sermon, the Rev. Pastor 
Tranberg stepped before the altar, demanded my papers 
and called the deacons, elders and other members of the 
small Lutheran congregation that were present forward 
and read to them, (i) The letter and call of the court 
chaplain, Ziegenhagen; (2) My certificate of ordination at 
Leipzig; (3) My certificate of matriculation and diploma 
of the University of Gottingen; and (4) The acceptance of 
the officers of the congregations in New Hanover and 
Providence. He explained all these papers in the English 
language, as he was no ready speaker in German. He 
explained further, that the regular order in the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church is as follows: No one can be accepted as 
a minister and pastor unless he have a regular call and 
certificate of ordination, otherwise disorders might arise. 
They should therefore declare themselves distinctly, 
whether they acknowledged my call and ordination right 
and proper or not. The officers and several others an- 
swered that they had as much right and part in my call 
and commission as the congregations in New Hanover 
and New Providence. Mr. Koch answered, 'You have 
accepted the old man Kraft as your preacher.' They 
answered, 'We have not accepted him, neither have we 
given him a call, and we now wish to enjoy the services 
of the one sent in answer to our long-continued corre- 
spondence by the court chaplain Ziegenhagen.' Here- 
upon they pressed forward with joyful countenances and 
extended to me and to Pastor Tranberg the right hand, 

68 



THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA 

and thus confirmed my call to them as well as to the other 
two congregations." 

Thus was the great patriarch installed in his wide field 
of labor in America in the Gloria Dei Church, and a 
faithful, fruitful, unselfish, untiring service of forty-five 
years crowned his labors with success and proved him to 
be the greatest man Germany has ever sent to America. 

For the third great event we must move forward once 
more, for the space of two years. It is now 1744, and we 
are in the same temple as before, in the Wicaco Church. 
A conference is to be held here between the Swedes and 
the Germans. We know the # chief speakers, Muhlenberg, 
Tranberg, Koch and Schleydorn. Two new names must 
be added. The new pastor of the Wicaco Church has 
arrived. It is Pastor Naesman. The Swedes have also 
sent a Swedish minister to Lancaster to serve the German 
congregation there. His name is Nyberg. The object 
of the conference is to form a union of the Swedish and 
German Lutheran congregations in America. The great 
leader in the movement was Peter Koch. Schleydorn 
strongly favored the union and Muhlenberg was of the 
same opinion. Naesman feared difficulties on the part of 
the home government, for Germany and Sweden did not 
agree as heartily as Sweden and England. At the con- 
ference two questions were discussed, Shall a union be 
established? and, if so, w T hat regulations shall be adopted 
for the services? In discussing the first question, Nyberg, 
who was a Lutheran in name but a Moravian in spirit, 
demanded that the Moravians should also be admitted, 
inasmuch as they accepted the Augsburg Confession. 

69 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Muhlenberg strongly opposed this on the gound that 
Lutherans accepted the Unaltered Augsburg Confession 
and all the other Symbolical Books. Naesman claimed 
that only the archbishop of Sweden could decide the 
question. Under the second question, Mr. Koch con- 
tended for a less extended form of service than that which 
was used by the Swedes, as the Germans were accustomed 
to a much simpler order of worship. The reason given 
was that if a union is to be formed minor matters must be 
compromised. Tranberg weakened and failed to support 
Mr. Koch as he had promised. Naesman contended that 
the Swedish regulations should be adopted, as the Swedes 
had been in the country the longest. He felt, too, that 
no other course would satisfy the home authorities. 
Thus no conclusion could be reached. Mr. Koch was so 
disappointed that he made many grievous mistakes after 
this in his dealings with his church and pastor. In spite 
of the unsuccessful outcome of the meeting, it was a great 
conference. A failure it was indeed for the Swedes, but 
for the Germans it was far different, for out of defeat 
developed four years later the organization of the Mother 
of Synods, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. Great vic- 
tories often spring from discouraging failures. 

70 




Map of Swedish Colony 

C, Christina River. B, Brandy wine Creek. S, Schuylkill River. 

D, Delaware River. R, Raccoon Creek. Sa, Salem River. 

I, Christina Fort, 1638. 2, Tinicum Island Church, 1646. 

3, Tranhook Church, 1667. 

4, Wicaco Block Church, 1669 ; Gloria Dei Church, 1700. 

5, Trinity Church, Wilmington, 1699. 6, Trinity Church, Swedes- 

boro, 1704. 7, St. George's Church, Pennsneck, 17 17. 

a, Pannsville. b, Pennsgrove. c, Upland, or Chester. 

d, Gloucester, e, Salem, f, New Castle. 



vin 

THE LAST OF THE SWEDISH MISSIONARIES 

The Revolutionary War played havoc with all religious 
interests in the American colonies, especially with those 
of the Lutheran Church. It interrupted communica- 
tions with the mother countries and caused great up- 
heavels in the home congregations. Pastors left the 
pulpit, put on the soldier's uniform, or entered the arena 
of politics. Congregations were greatly weakened by 
the loss of members who went away to fight the battles of 
freedom. Many never came back and of those that 
returned after an absence of years the greater portion 
had become indifferent to all claims of religion. A new 
language was established in the land and Swedish was 
almost extinct. The German interests suffered with the 
rest, but were revived and reinforced by the arrival of 
German immigrants. No preachers could be found to 
supply the demand for English services, and the Swedish 
churches were at a great loss to know what to do. The 
crown of Sweden recalled its missionaries soon after the 
close of the war, and two of the three accepted the invita- 
tion to return home. This left two Swedish parishes 
vacant, and as no English Lutheran minister could be 
supplied, they made an amendment to their laws to the 
effect that their pastors might be either Lutheran or Epis- 

71 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

copal. Somehow, from that time forth, they were always 
the latter, and gradually all the Swedish Lutheran congre- 
gations became affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. Their history, lessons, and associations are ours; 
they can never be taken from us. The noble pioneers that 
labored here for almost two hundred years are ours, with 
the glories of their labors; not one ever left his church. 
The material form of the churches and their substance, 
their grounds and buildings, their care and preservation, 
have drifted into the possession of others. 

One of the three Swedish ministers in America at the 
close of the war expressed a willingness to remain, provided 
he could serve the Wicaco congregation. It was so ar- 
ranged, and in 1786 he became pastor of this parish and 
served the charge to the time of his death in 183 1. He was 
the last of the Swedish missionaries in America, and out- 
lived everyone that was ever engaged in the Swedish 
mission on the Delaware. He spent sixty-one years in the 
New World and reached the eighty-seventh year of his 
life. He became one of the most popular and widely 
known ministers in Philadelphia, averaging eighty-four 
marriages a year during his long career. His name was 
Nicholas Collin. The University of Pennsylvania gave 
him the well deserved title of Doctor of Divinity. 

We are interested in Dr. Collin, not only because he is 
the last Swedish missionary, but also because he erected 
the last and the largest of the landmarks of the Swedish 
settlement in America. It is located at Swedesboro, New 
Jersey. It deserves a visit from all interested Lutherans 
that can reach it. Unlike the other Swedish landmarks, 

72 




St. George's Church, near Pennsville, New Jersey 



THE LAST OF THE SWEDISH MISSIONARIES 

its history falls in the time after the Revolution, but it is 
of so much interest to us that it deserves consideration 
in these pages. It gives us the opportunity of writing the 
closing chapter of the mission as a Lutheran field of pastoral 
activity, and of telling the interesting story of the Swedes 
in New Jersey. They began to cross the Delaware and 
settle in West Jersey before the end of the seventeenth 
century. They were there in considerable numbers 
when the three missionaries arrived, having gathered in 
two centers, Penn's Neck, now written Pennsneck, and 
Raccoon, now called Swedesboro. In the early years of 
their settlement the pastor of Wicaco served the people 
living at Raccoon, and the pastor at Christina those living 
in Pennsneck. 

Let the interested reader accompany the writer on a 
visit to these two historic churches. We shall take the 
Salem boat at Philadelphia and ride down the Delaware 
past Pennsgrove to Pennsville. Here we must leave the 
boat. We are now on the ground hallowed by the feet 
of the Swedish settlers and made memorable by the fact 
that it is the birthplace of the first Lutheran minister born 
in America, John Abraham Lidenius. It was called in 
early times Pennsneck by the English. Less than two 
miles from our landing place is St. George's Church. It 
is an Episcopal chapel, built of brick, standing in a 
cemetery of about two acres. Let us take a picture of it. 
The tree in front of the entrance is a weeping willow. 
Where the chapel now stands, in the year 171 7, the Swed- 
ish settlers built their first wooden church, and the present 
building is its fourth or fifth successor. All traces of the 

73 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Lutheran and Swedish history of the community are lost, 
and many of those who worship there would be greatly 
surprised to read this account of the history of their church. 
In the cemetery there are a few fallen tombstones bearing 
Swedish names, and they form the only reminder that 
remains of its Swedish founders. Penn's name is every- 
where in evidence, as for instance in Pennsville, Penns- 
neck and Pennsgrove, but the names of those who cleared 
the land, drained the miasmatic swamps, breathed the 
malarial atmosphere and suffered from the discouraging 
effects of chills and fever, are nowhere to be found, except 
in the name Swedesboro. 

Having seen St. George's without and within, and read 
the old grave markers, we retrace our steps and continue 
in a southern direction along the fine shell road to Salem. 
It is a pleasant walk of six miles from Pennsville. As we 
enter the city we pass the large oak tree over three hun- 
dred years old, of which the people of Salem are justly 
proud. It must have been of considerable size when 
Lidenius was born near here and when the Swedish 
missionaries passed back and forth. 

At Salem we take the train for Swedesboro, and after an 
hour's ride in the direction of Philadelphia, we reach the 
beautiful city. We lose no time in finding the historic 
shrine we have come to see. It is on the main road pass- 
ing through Swedesboro from Camden to Salem, and it is 
in the northern part of the city. It is in a large cemetery, 
which unfortunately is not kept as well as its history should 
inspire its present owners to keep it and to dress it. On 
the site where the large church stands Pastor Collin, upon 

74 



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THE LAST OF THE SWEDISH MISSIONARIES 

his arrival soon after 1770, found an old wooden structure 
which a deposed Swedish minister had built in 1704. 
About 1750 it was repaired and enlarged, but when Collin 
came it was fast falling into decay, and the roof leaked so 
badly that when it rained no service could he held in it. 
Collin soon formed the idea of building a new church, but 
the war broke out and every nerve of the congregation 
and community was paralyzed and every muscle atrophied. 
In the midst of his discouragements, privations, and 
sufferings, Collin desired to be recalled to Sweden, and he 
threatened to return home without official consent should 
the call fail to arrive soon. But he remained at his post, 
and when the war was over and the recall came, the faith- 
ful pastor refused to desert his field and leave his distressed 
flock shepherdless. 

In spite of the poverty and desolation caused by the 
war, Collin took up the project of rebuilding the church. 
He met with opposition on all sides, and his officers gave 
him no encouragement whatever. But he persisted lov- 
ingly and patiently in the good work, and they finally 
agreed that he should select a committee of managers 
from those favoring the enterprise and willing to support 
it, and w r ith their aid proceed with the work as the plans 
could be devised and executed. 

This was a generous concession on the part of his 
unsympathetic officers, and Collin availed himself of the 
offer. They were at least willing to step aside and let him 
go ahead. Human nature generally obstructs the way. 
New troubles, however, arose as it became necessary to 
decide questions of dimensions and material. His com- 

75 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

mittee felt that a small wooden church would satisfy all 
demands. Collin looked to the future, and accordingly 
wanted to rear a large and substantial edifice that would 
be a credit to the people and equal to the needs of the 
coming generations. He had the trenches dug according 
to the size suggested by the committee, that they might 
see what a small church their figures represented. Then 
he extended the lines as much as he thought safe, and told 
them that the dimensions were still too small, and finally 
they agreed reluctantly to permit him to project a church 
whose exterior dimensions were 41 by 6 1 feet, with brick 
walls high enough to allow for two tiers of windows. The 
foundation was laid and the making of bricks was begun. 
Collin himself made the kiln. Bad weather set in and at 
one time the rain ruined large heaps of bricks waiting for 
the fire. To save as many of them as possible, Collin took 
off his coat, rolled up his slevees and went to work, setting 
his half-hearted parishioners a good pace of Christian 
activity. 

The work began late in the fall of 1783, and the building 
was enclosed by Christmas of the following year. During 
1785 the carpenters were kept busy, and in March, 1786, 
the church was finished, at least in all its main parts. It 
was a great achievement for the missionary who often stood 
alone in this enterprise. He also attended to all the 
financial details, collecting all the money and paying all the 
bills. It was several years after the completion of the 
church before all accounts were settled. After he became 
pastor in Philadelphia, he visited the congregation until 
all was done and the bills paid. He has left a long, 

76 




Trinity Church, Swedesboro, New Jersey 



THE LAST OF THE SWEDISH MISSIONARIES 

graphic report of the building operations in the church 
records. It is written in English, in a large, round, beau- 
tiful hand, much like that of Muhlenberg. On the same 
records he entered a detailed financial statement, giving 
every item of contribution and disbursement and showing 
that the completed building cost £1310 8s. 

Some years after the completion of the church, a desire 
arose among some of the members to have a tower added 
to the building. It was found that there was not sufficient 
room to the front, so it was built to the rear, which seems 
a strange place for it, but adds to its uniqueness. It is 
composed of brick, eighteen feet square and high enough 
to allow for five tiers of windows. Upon this high brick 
work a spire of wood, in three parts, was reared, making 
a steeple visible from a great distance, especially as the 
woodwork is painted white. A sweet-tongued bell sounds 
forth from its lofty height through the still air a frequent 
invitation to come and worship the Lord. 

The church is called Trinity, and has a good location and 
pleasant surroundings. To the north is the large cemetery. 
In front of it a beautiful linden is growing, while maples 
and sycamores adorn its side and a grove of oaks forms a 
pleasing background. 

Now let us enter the interior. Here we find galleries 
extending around three sides and the usual chancel ar- 
rangement on the fourth side. It is evident that the work 
of the old fathers has largely been changed, though the 
pews and galleries remain as they were built. Unfortu- 
nately the organ has been moved from its colonial place 
in the gallery to the side of the chancel. But in spite of 

77 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

the alterations one is filled with a deep feeling of devotion 
and reverence, as he realizes that for one hundred and 
twenty-six years God's children have gathered to worship 
in this sanctuary. 

Through a door at the side of the chancel we enter the 
tower room back of the church. Here a strange-looking 
key unlocks the vault built into the wall of the chancel. 
In this vault are kept the sacred communion vessels, the 
books of the old settlers bearing dates that were current 
two centuries ago, and especially the written records 
which begin with the year 1713, and contain the entries of 
the ministers, including Dr. Collin's valuable English 
records. Up to Dr. Collin's time all are written in 
Swedish. One of the pastors, Peter Tranberg, who was 
promoted to Christina in 1741, wrote his valedictory in 
English, as though at that early day he felt that the time 
would soon come when only English eyes would fall on the 
records. He wrote as follows, and we detect a strain of 
sadness running through the lines: 

A Final Speech to the Reader. 

I lay now down my pen and shut up the Book, having no more 
to write or say, but according to Ordres must go to another Parish. 
The Lord of Heaven be with us all, & grant that when the Records 
of our Stewardship shall be laid open before men & Angels, we may 
be found faithfull Stewards & hear that blessed Invitation, written 
by St. Matth. Ch. 25 V. 21, Are the hearty Prayers of your most 
humble Servant, 

Peter Tranberg. 

As we retrace our steps to the depot to return to our 
starting place, let us take one more long look at this noble 

78 



THE LAST OF THE SWEDISH MISSIONARIES 

monument of the zeal and devotion, foresight and enter- 
prise, courage and untiring energy of Nicholas Collin, the 
last of the Swedish missionaries, and let each one ask 
himself whether the memory of this self-denying servant 
of the Lord should not be held sacred? Ought not his 
life and work be an encouragement to our struggling 
Home and Foreign missionaries who must labor in a 
similar way to lay the foundation stones of pioneer work 
in the vineyard, and ought we not admire the Lutheran 
Church of the Old World for sending noble men like him 
to lay their gifts and talents and lives upon the altar of 
American development? 

79 



IX 

A PILGRIMAGE TO THE OLDEST LUTHERAN 
LANDMARK ERECTED BY GERMANS 

For many years the writer had treasured in his heart 
the hope that some day his eyes might delight themselves 
by gazing upon what he had learned to know as the oldest 
landmark of the fidelity of German Lutheran settlers in 
America. He had seen and admired the Swedish churches 
on the Delaware; his heart had been satisfied by repeated 
visits to the Old Trappe Church, and he had been ac- 
corded the rare privilege of preaching within its ancient 
walls; he had likewise visited Jerusalem Church at Eben- 
ezer, Georgia, and preached in its pulpit; but one shrine 
still remained that he had not seen. History gave it the 
honor of being the oldest Lutheran church in America, 
still standing, which has been continuously used for 
Lutheran services. 

r The landmark which has this distinction in Lutheran 
Church history was reared in the year 1740, and is, there- 
fore, three years older than the venerated sanctuary at 
the Trappe. The name of the church is Hebron, and it is 
located in Madison County, Virginia, some miles east of 
the Blue Ridge. It must not be confused with the church 
made famous by Peter Muhlenberg, for that is about sixty 

80 



THE OLDEST LUTHERAN LANDMARK 

miles west of the Hebron Church, across two mountain 
ranges, and in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. 

The history of the builders of this monument goes back 
seventeen years further than the arrival of the Salzburgers 
in Georgia in 1734, and the church is almost thirty years 
older than the Jerusalem Church at Ebenezer. This 
interesting shrine is seventeen miles away from the rail- 
road station, and the pilgrimage cost the writer almost 
twenty-five miles of foot work, but he considered this as 
nothing when he thought of the long distances covered 
repeatedly by many of the German settlers in attending 
the services in this house of worship. His first goal was 
the Lutheran parsonage at Madison, where the weary and 
dusty pilgrim was soon refreshed by the true Southern 
hospitality that obtains in the home of Pastor and Mrs. 
W. P. Huddle and their children. For fifteen years 
Pastor Huddle has guarded the interests of this Lutheran 
shrine and its worshipers. He has become thoroughly 
imbued with the spirit of fidelity represented by the seven 
or eight generations that have assembled within its sacred 
walls, and is endeavoring to impress upon the actors now 
upon the scene the importance of preserving that same 
faithfulness to the word, loyalty to the Master and the 
Lutheran Church, and activity in the extension of the 
kingdom, in full appreciation of the rich inheritance their 
ancestors bequeathed to them. He has served his genera- 
tion well, in that he has published an admirable history of 
the Hebron Church and congregation with many fine 
illustrations. In its preparation he spared neither expense 
nor labor, seeking his information at the original sources 

81 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

and manifesting the true spirit of the historian by gen- 
erously giving all the authorities consulted. 

Under the guidance of the pastor the pilgrim was 
allowed to examine the old records still in the possession 
of the congregation. Here can be found an abundance 
of food for the imagination of historic minds. Here are 
seen the lines traced by human hands one hundred and 
seventy-seven years ago. Of special interest is the col- 
lectors' book, carried by the pastor, John Caspar Stoever, 
Sr., and two laymen, on a tour to solicit funds in Europe, 
with entries in five different languages — German, English, 
Dutch, Latin and French. Near the end of the book is 
an entry made by Pastor Stoever's successor, George 
Samuel Klug, certifying to the correctness of the accounts 
rendered and the money transferred to the congregation. 
A total of almost six thousand dollars had been collected, 
leaving, after deducting the expenses, nearly four thou- 
sand dollars for building a church and buying a farm for 
the use of the pastor. Treasurers' account books over one 
hundred years old, with interesting items on both sides 
of the ledger, are also in the collection, and are of great 
historic value and local interest. Farseeing wisdom has 
provided a place for the careful preservation of these 
records in the fireproof vaults of the county courthouse. 

A two miles' drive the next morning over the hillsides 
of Madison County and through White Oak Run brought 
the eager pilgrim to the beautiful elevation on which the 
devout colonists one hundred and seventy-two years ago 
built their sanctuary. It is located in a grove of oaks and 
hickories and enclosed by a neat paling fence forming an 

82 



THE OLDEST LUTHERAN LANDMARK 

octagon, within which locusts and maples are growing 
about the building, sheltering and protecting it and pre- 
venting it from having the appearance of standing alone 
and forsaken. Through the kindness of Pastor Huddle 
we give our readers a picture of the church as it appears 
today. 

But we must enter. Through the same door through 
which the humble worshipers have gone for almost two 
hundred years, we are ushered in. The first object to 
catch our eye is the pulpit surrounded by pews on three 
sides. We crave a moment for silent thought. The lips 
that first spoke in this edifice, the ears that heard the 
message, the language in which it was delivered, are here 
no more; but the gospel is still the same, preached in the 
same faith and taught according to the same Unaltered 
Augsburg Confession. Externals have changed, but the 
doctrine remains, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," 
and "The just shall live by faith.'' Even the walls have 
been altered, an annex has been added to the church and 
a large pipe organ installed, but the gospel and the faith 
are still the same. 

The old fathers built a substantial frame church, fifty 
feet long and twenty-six feet wide, with a door at each 
end. The elevated pulpit was placed at the middle point 
of the long side and a gallery over each entrance. A 
small vestry room was built back of the pulpit on the north 
side. There is conclusive evidence for saying that this 
was their second church; the first one was built of hewn 
logs, and this may be the foundation for the impression 
in the minds of many that the Hebron church is a log 

83 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

church. This is an error, as the present building through- 
out is a frame structure, made as strong and durable as 
it was possible at that time to make it. The nails and 
hinges were made in their own blacksmith shops, and the 
beams, joists, boards, and shingles were prepared by hand 
with much care. The ceiling w T as vaulted in a large 
semicircle, and the whole interior was covered with boards 
finished as well as could be done with the tools at hand. 
Later room had to be provided for the growing audiences 
and for the organ. An annex was therefore added to the 
side opposite the vestry, thus making the building cruci- 
form. When this alteration was made the interior wood- 
work was torn off (alas, cruel hands!) and a flat ceiling 
was built across the room and the annex, excepting 
the south end of the annex, which was reserved for the 
organ gallery; the interior walls and ceiling were then 
plastered and later frescoed. The removal of the wood- 
work and the closing off of the high-curved ceiling are 
much to be regretted, and it would be of interest to see the 
sanctuary in its old form of strength and beauty. The 
interested pilgrim was glad to tear from the beams behind 
the ceiling a hand-hammered nail, and bear it away as a 
prize to be treasured for years to come. For our readers 
we have reproduced a picture of the church as it appeared 
when built in 1740. 

Before leaving the church, let us take a closer view of the 
pipe organ. It was built in David Tannenberg's famous 
factory at Lititz, Pa., and installed in 1802. It is sixteen 
feet high, eight feet wide and three feet thick, made of 
hard and soft pine, painted in harmony with the interior 

84 



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Hebron Church As It Was 



THE OLDEST LUTHERAN LANDMARK 

of the church. The keys are black and the sharps and 
flats are white. It has but one manual of four octaves, 
with eight stops, but no pedals. The wind is supplied by 
two lever pumps operated by the feet, set off from the 
organ and connected with it by means of a wooden con- 
duit. The pipes number about two hundred; the half of 
them are metal, the rest wood. For over one hundred 
years the instrument has poured forth its strong, clear and 
melodious tones, to aid the assembled worshipers in hymn- 
ing their praises to their Maker and Redeemer. 

Retracing our steps, let us also visit the sacristy at the 
north end of the church. Here we find an old chest, which 
is reasonably supposed to have been brought from Europe 
filled with books collected by Pastor Stoever on his tour 
in Europe. In it at the present time are preserved the 
sacramental vessels. Among them are the oldest of all 
of the possessions that have come down to the present 
day in the congregation. Pastor Huddle has had a good 
picture made of the group. Among these, one bears 
the date 1727, two 1729 and another 1737. The cup 
bears an extended inscription, quoting the twenty-fifth 
verse of the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians and 
showing that it was presented to the congregation by Mr. 
Furgen Stollen of Liibeck, Germany, in 1737. 

We cannot look upon these sacred memorials and a 
landmark old as this without reviewing the story of the 
pioneers who reared the landmark and preserved the 
sacred vessels. In the year 1717, a small band of perse- 
cuted Germans left their fatherland with the hope of 
finding a more happy and prosperous home in Pennsyl- 

35 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

vania. Their vessel stopped at London, where the captain 
of the ship was imprisoned for debt. The immigrants 
were delayed and their condition was made unpleasant by 
a lack of food. When they set sail again there was much 
suffering from hunger and a number of them died. The 
ship was driven from its course and a landing made in 
Virginia instead of Pennsylvania. Here the pilgrims, 
strangers in a strange land, were sold by the captain to 
pay for their transportation. Governor Spottswood of 
Virginia advanced the money, and they were bound to 
him to work out their expenses by an eight years' ser- 
vice. He settled them near Germanna and put them 
to work in his iron mines and foundry. They were 
Lutherans and formed themselves into a congregation, 
but for sixteen years they had no pastor. When they 
were free, they took up land for themselves farther 
west in what is now Madison County near the eastern 
base of the Blue Ridge on the Robinson River. This 
was in 1725, and here within a year they built their 
first church. 

What should they do to secure a pastor? In con- 
junction with a German Reformed congregation they sent 
to St. Gall, Switzerland, but in vain. About six or seven 
years later, upon making inquiries in Pennsylvania for 
a Lutheran pastor, they were directed to a man who was 
willing and even anxious to serve them. It seems he had 
gone to North Carolina some years before, had married 
there and was rearing a family of small children. On 
account of his mother-in-law, his home life was not pleas- 
ant, and he was seeking another place to live. He came 

86 







The Old Communion Service 



THE OLDEST LUTHERAN LANDMARK 

to Virginia and found the shepherdless flock of German 
Lutherans. But, alas! he was but a student of theology 
and not an ordained minister. What was to be done? 
In Pennsylvania this candidate of theology had a son, 
who styled himself a " missionary," and had been doing 
"the work of an evangelist" for five years. He, too, 
was unordained, but recently, to his great joy, a regularly 
ordained minister had come from Germany and had or- 
dained him at the Trappe April 8, 1733. The son sent the 
glad news to his father in Virginia and the congregation 
sent their candidate to the same minister, and he was like- 
wise ordained. On the second Sunday after Trinity, in 
the same year, the newly ordained pastor celebrated his 
first communion with his happy flock. 

Now, I must give you the names of these three ministers. 
You will meet with them again. The student of theology 
was John Caspar Stoever, Sr. ; the missionary in Pennsyl- 
vania, John Caspar Stoever, Jr., and the ordaining min- 
ister, John Christian Schulz. 

A few years ago we had no knowledge of the ordination 
of this Virginia pioneer. The ordination of Daniel Falck- 
ner is still a mystery. In both cases their regular ordina- 
tion was taken for granted. Now we know who ordained 
Pastor Stoever, and some day some one will discover, per- 
haps by mere accident, the circumstances of Falckner's 
induction into the Lutheran ministry. The discovery in 
the case of the elder Stoever is most interesting. It is 
one of the fruits of the labors of Pastor Huddle, who, in 
examining the printed court records, made by Prof. W. J. 
Hinke, Ph. D., found the following items, in the accounts 

87 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

of the treasurer of the Hebron congregation for the year 

1733: 

£ s 

By money paid to inquire for a minister in Pennsylvania .... 6 

By money to SheibJey for traveling to Pennsylvania with our 

minister to receive his orders 17 

By money paid by George Sheibley to ye Rev'd Mr. Schulz in 

Pennsylvania for ordination 1 3 

By paid our minister, John Caspar Stoever, his traveling ex- 
penses to Pennsylvania 1 9 

These items prove conclusively that Stoever was ordained 
by Schulz. It is but just to state that long before these 
facts were established, Dr. W. J. Mann in his notes on the 
Halle Reports made the suggestion that in all probability 
the two Stoevers were ordained by Pastor Schulz. Surely 
this manifests an historic spirit in our beloved professor 
calling for our deepest admiration. 

For a year and a half the pastor labored very earnestly 
among the people. In the spring of 1734, he was reunited 
with his family. His wife, mother-in-law, and children 
were brought at the expense of the congregation to his 
Virginia home. In the fall of that year he and two mem- 
bers of his flock made a tour to Europe and secured funds 
for a church, pastor's farm, schoolhouse, books for him- 
self and the congregation and an ordained minister for 
his assistant. On the return journey early in 1738, Stoever 
died on the sea, and his body was intrusted to the waters 
of the deep. The pastor was no more, but the work 
continued. The assistant, George Samuel Klug, became 
his successor, the funds were properly applied, the farm 
bought and equipped and the church and school were 

88 



THE OLDEST LUTHERAN LANDMARK 

built. The latter disappeared long ago, but the church 
remains to be photographed and described in these pages. 
Pastor Klug lived here till 1764, serving his people faith- 
fully to the end. 

Klug was succeeded by Catechist John Schwarbach who 
was ordained by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and 
became a missionary "in labors abundant." He traveled 
far and wide beyond the mountains, reaching territory 
that today is in West Virginia. Here he found the 
family of Justus Henkel and other Lutherans and built 
a church for them. In 1768 he confirmed Paul Henkel, 
then a boy of fourteen years. He served the Hebron 
parish till 1774, in which year he entered his last bap- 
tisms in the church register. 

But here we must close the old records and reluctantly 
turn away from this interesting monument of colonial 
Lutheranism. Has it any interest for you, my reader? 
Is it not a privilege to have come into an historical in- 
heritance like this? Does the story of the Hebron 
church move us to a deeper devotion to our Lutheran 
Zion and compel us to admire and to emulate the earnest- 
ness and steadfastness of the early settlers, who in the 
midst of the greatest trials, difficulties, and privations 
provided so well for themselves and their children in the 
things of their holy religion? 

Let us learn to love the old landmarks erected by the 
Lutheran pioneers in America and take to heart the 
lessons of love for the Master they teach us. 

This sketch will be incomplete without Emerson's 
touching words on "The Old Meetinghouse." 

89 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

We love the venerable house 

Our fathers built to God; 
In heaven are kept their grateful vows, 

Their dust endears the sod. 

Here holy thoughts a light have shed 

From many a radiant face, 
And prayers of tender hope have spread 

A perfume through the place. 

And anxious hearts have pondered here 

The mystery of life, 
And prayed the eternal Spirit clear 

Their doubts and end their strife. 

From humble tenements around 

Came up the pensive train, 
And in the church a blessing found, 

Which filled their homes again. 

For faith and peace and mighty love, 

That from the Godhead flow, 
Showed them the light of heaven above 

Springs from the life below. 

They live with God, their homes are dust; 

But here their children pray, 
And in this fleeting lifetime trust 

To find the narrow way. 

9 o 



X 

THE PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 
FOR THE GREATEST OF THE PIONEERS 

The great patriarch, Muhlenberg, was the greatest 
of the Lutheran pioneers in America. His main field 
was eastern Pennsylvania, and on this soil for fifty years 
before his arrival Germans had settled. At first there 
were but few Lutherans among them, but later their 
numbers increased, and they became very numerous among 
the early settlers. The Germans did not bring teachers 
and pastors with them, but in utter forgetfulness of their 
spiritual needs they sought a home in the New World to 
escape the poverty and persecution in the Old. Only 
after years of destitution did they learn to realize the ex- 
tent of their spiritual poverty. The help that was given 
them was slight. Books were scarce, school teachers 
were not to be found, and the preachers that pretended 
to teach and to preach were mere wandering wolves in 
sheep's clothing. Pious men and evangelists in those 
early days might have done much good and sowed seed 
that would have produced much fruit. But they had not 
come to America. 

The earliest ministers that visited the Germans in 
Pennsylvania were the Swedish pastors on the Delaware. 
Some of them knew the German language, others learned 

91 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

it, and all were in sympathy with the shepherdless flocks 
that were found at Germantown, Philadelphia, New 
Providence, and New Hanover. It is not within the scope 
of this sketch to speak of these Swedish missionaries, 
though it should never be forgotten how much the German 
Lutherans in Pennsylvania owe to the Swedish ministers. 
They are the earliest forerunners of the great patriarch, 
but we rightly associate them with the work of the Swed- 
ish churches. They did not allow their language to limit 
their usefulness and ministered in German, English, and 
even Dutch, besides their own mother tongue. 

Among the forerunners of Muhlenberg the writer does 
not count the many ecclestiastical tramps that were 
found everywhere; as, for instance, Kraft in Philadelphia, 
Schmidt at New Hanover, with many more at other 
places. The church was unorganized, and everywhere 
unscrupulous men took advantage of this condition to earn 
a living without "the sweat of the face," and to fill their 
pockets with unearned gain. Columns could be filled 
with accounts of their pretensions, deceptions, quackery, 
and thefts. Dr. Kretschmann, in his history of "The Old 
Trappe Church," mentions six in as many lines. By their 
impositions they distracted the disorganized congregations, 
increased the disorder and confusion, and robbed the 
people of their respect for the ministry and love for the 
Church. They were pioneers of evil, servants of Satan 
and slaves of the god of mammon and of lies. 

Muhlenberg's real forerunners in the work in eastern 
Pennsylvania were not many in number, and our readers 
need not fear pages of hard names. When we have given 

92 



PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 

brief space to four persons it will suffice. The result of 
the labors of these four men was not such as to give Muhlen- 
berg the feeling upon his arrival, that the work was done. 
In spite of the best efforts put forth before his time he 
found chaos and not cosmos. He entered upon condi- 
tions that were very discouraging, and the labors of his 
forerunners were not in evidence. He could truly feel 
that he entered upon the labors of no man. Yet what 
would his new field have been without the work of these 
four men? He would have entered a wilderness without 
a single path. As it was, Muhlenberg found a flock in 
Philadelphia, confused and distracted, it is true, still a 
flock; a place of worship in New Hanover, unfinished, it is 
true, but still a church; and a church in Germantown. 
Farther west, later on, he found other evidence of the 
labors of his forerunners. On account of the wild condi- 
tion of the country, the diversity of belief among the 
European immigrants, the lack of books and schools, 
the difficulty and hardship of travel, the devastations of 
religious vagabonds, it was impossible to accomplish much 
as long as a master mind like that of Muhlenberg was 
wanting. 

The labors of these early pioneers must not be over- 
looked nor depreciated. Their zeal, devotion, self-denial, 
courage, and endurance applied to present day problems 
would effect far more than we in our day accomplish. 
Bring their zeal and our opportunities together and what 
results could we not expect! 

The first of the four early pioneers to be mentioned 
is Daniel Falckner. He was born in Saxony in 1666, 

93 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

and in 1694 at the age of twenty-eight he came to 
America and settled in Germantown. He was the son 
of a Lutheran minister and studied theology in Germany. 
His two brothers likewise were students, and his father 
intended all three for the ministry. Eventually the wish 
was gratified, but not in the lifetime of the pious father. 
One of the brothers did not come to America. We know 
when and where the brother Justus was ordained, and that 
he labored as pastor in New York. But of Daniel's 
ordination we have no record. This however we know, 
that throughout a long service as a regular Lutheran pastor 
his ordination was not called in question. The writer is 
of the opinion that he was not ordained till after he began 
his work in New Jersey, beginning with the year 1708. 
As a forerunner of Muhlenberg, he labored in Pennsyl- 
vania between the years 1700 and 1708, and the writer 
loves to think of him as one of the faithful laymen of "ye 
olden times," who, as missionary and evangelist, kept the 
candle of the Lord burning until others arrived to hold up 
a clearer light. But whether as a student of theology, or 
as an ordained minister, or as a pastor who had simply 
grown into the office by the silent acceptance of those to 
whom he ministered, Falckner served his countrymen well, 
and has the honor of being regarded as the one who laid 
the first stone in the foundation of the history of the oldest 
German Lutheran congregation in America, which was 
organized about 1703 in New Hanover, Pennsylvania. 
The present pastor, Dr. J. J. Kline, has written its history, 
and his lofty opinion of Daniel Falckner is expressed in 
these words: " Although his name was overlooked for a 

94 



PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 

long time and his labors depreciated, we are glad to know 
that he will pass into history as that of the first regular 
pastor of the oldest German Lutheran congregation in 
America." 

Falckner was the agent of a large land company, and 
settled Germans upon a tract of land in the Manatawney 
district very early in the new century. He was concerned 
for the spiritual welfare of these settlers as well as for 
their material interests, and it is the opinion of many 
that both he and his brother Justus held services for them. 
When Justus went to New York in December, 1703, his 
brother Daniel was left to serve them alone, except as the 
Swedish ministers assisted him. Daniel was a man of so 
much importance among his people that they named the 
district "Falckner's Swamp/' though it is by no means a 
" swamp," but a very fertile and beautiful country. It is 
thought that a log church was built here as early as 1704. 

The labors of Daniel Falckner must not be despised. 
New Hanover was undoubtedly the first point where a 
permanent organization was formed among the German 
Lutherans of Pennsylvania, and the work was the fruit 
of the earnest efforts of this noble man. He did his work 
well. 

But in his business as a land agent he stirred up bitter 
enemies. They conspired against him and deprived him 
of all his holdings and authority. He was so discouraged 
over his losses that he left Pennsylvania, and Dr. Sachse 
has found no evidence to show that he ever returned to 
the province again. He labored successfully in New Jer- 
sey, both as pastor and physician. When Pastor Kocher- 

95 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

thai died in 17 19, and his own brother Justus in 1723, he 
cared for their parishes, and his field extended as far north 
as Albany. To the best of his ability he ministered 
throughout this vast territory until 1725, when Pastor 
Berkenmeyer arrived and served New York and the Dutch 
and German churches on the Hudson River. In 1729 
Pastor Falckner took a prominent part in the dedication 
of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City. 
He lived to the honored age of seventy-five, dying in 1741. 
The name of the second forerunner is Anthony Jacob 
Henkel, who came to America as an exile in 1 717. He 
was an ordained minister, a man well advanced in years, 
bringing a large family with him. One of his daughters 
was married to Valentine Geiger, and his family accom- 
panied him. Pastor Henkel took up a farm of two 
hundred and fifty acres at New Hanover, and Mr. Geiger 
also secured a farm and settled there, and became a prom- 
inent citizen and a faithful deacon in the congregation. 
Pastor Muhlenberg buried him in the year 1762. Dr. 
Kline assigns two terms of service to Pastor Henkel at 
New Hanover, 17x7 to 1720, and 1723 to 1728. His 
name is most frequently given as Gerhard Henkel, but 
this was the name of his oldest son, who was born in 
Germany before 1700. Pastor Henkel is the middle link 
of a family chain extending two centuries back to the 
Reformation, and forward the same length of time in 
America to the eighth and ninth generations, and including 
almost a hundred ministers and many prominent doctors 
and business men. The American branch came into 
prominence in the fourth generation with six ministers, 

96 




New Hanover Lutheran Church, Falckner's Swamp, Pa. 



PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 

the sons of one man, five of whom were Lutherans. Of 
these five the Rev. Paul Henkel was the greatest Home 
Missionary of the Lutheran Church after the Revolution. 
He was the father of six sons, five of whom became Luth- 
eran ministers and one an active layman, a physician 
by profession, forming the beginning of a new era in the 
family, replete with ministers, doctors and publishers, 
unequaled in usefulness, unselfishness, consecration in 
business, and missionary zeal. This activity of Paul 
Henkel, his five brothers and six sons falls beyond the 
time limits of these colonial sketches, and therefore we 
must leave the story for the future. 

The father of the American branch was a man of great 
physical strength, six feet tall, bold and courageous, true 
to the principles of his Church and full of missionary 
zeal. He is supposed to have traveled on horseback to the 
Germans in Virginia, and is known to have visited all the 
German settlements within reach of his home at New 
Hanover. At this place he found a log church which in a 
short time fell into decay. By his encouragement it was 
replaced by another one about 1721. In 1741 the third 
one was begun and finished after Muhlenberg's arrival. 
This, too, gave way to time and the elements, so that in 
1767 the beautiful stone church, w T hich is still standing 
and in constant use, was erected. We give our readers a 
picture of this house of worship. 

It is certain, too, that Pastor Henkel preached to the 
Germans at Philadelphia and Germantown. If the records 
of his labors will ever be found in his diaries, or in the dia- 
ries of his contemporaries, it will no doubt be revealed 

97 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

that he played an important part in the early history of 
these two congregations. Perhaps he was their founder. 
At Germantown a church was built in 1730 and dedicated 
in 1737 by the Swedish pastor, Dylander. Pastor Henkel 
no doubt was instrumental in . encouraging the people to 
build this church, and after his death the Germans could 
find no one to dedicate it until the Swedish pastor 
arrived. 

While on a visit to Germantown and Philadelphia, in 
1728, this zealous pioneer on his return journey to his 
home in New Hanover, fell from his horse and was wounded 
so severely that he died after lingering for a number of 
days. He was about sixty-five years of age, and had 
labored in the New World for eleven years. 

Upon his death his body was not taken for burial to his 
home, but it was brought to the newly opened God's acre 
of the present St. Michael's Church in Germantown, and 
there appropriately laid away. In 1744 his life com- 
panion died at the advanced age of seventy-three, and was 
buried in the same grave. We give our readers a picture 
of the headstone. At the top will be noticed the letters 
"A. H." They are the initials of Anthony Henkel. 
This double grave was found but a few years ago by his 
descendants. Their intention is at an early day to rear 
a suitable monument to mark this sacred spot. 

In the year and month and almost the very day when 
Pastor Henkel died, two earnest men reached the port 
of Philadelphia from Germany. They entered their names 
as passengers, the one describing himself as a missionary, 
the other as a student of theology. They both had 

98 




Tombstone of Maria Elizabeth Henkel 



PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 

exactly the same name, John Caspar Stoever, and they 
were father and son. The father is the one who signed 
himself as the student, and the writer has described his 
career in the account of the Hebron Church in Virginia. 
The son became an important forerunner of the great 
patriarch. When he styled himself a "missionary," he 
did not misapply the word, though it would have been of 
great advantage to him if he had been an ordained min- 
ister, as well as an untiring missionary. 

Reaching America just at the time of the death of the 
only German pastor, there was a wide and unoccupied 
field open to him. He entered at once, and was exceed- 
ingly active in the work. He and his father labored 
together in Philadelphia and vicinity, but it is not long 
before the father is lost sight of until he reappears in 
Virginia. There is evidence of life and activity through- 
out eastern Pennsylvania, which can best be explained 
by the presence of leaders, but most of it is ascribed to the 
energy of the son, John Caspar Stoever, Jr. He was but 
twenty-one years of age when he arrived, but did not allow 
his youth to interfere. Wherever a few Germans had set- 
tled he held services for them, baptized their children, 
began a church record, encouraged them to build a log 
church, and assisted in the work, and thus he traveled 
from place to place, year after year, preaching the gospel 
and making himself worthy of his hire by exacting no fees. 
In this way he continued for fifty-one years, working many 
years after the arrival of Muhlenberg. He was in America 
fourteen years before Muhlenberg came, and therefore the 
immediate forerunner of the great patriarch. He died 

99 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

while conducting a confirmation service on Ascension 
Day in 1779. 

Whilst he was in the midst of his many labors, the one 
of whom we wish to speak as the fourth of the forerunners 
reached eastern Pennsylvania. He arrived just ten years 
before Muhlenberg in the fall of 1732, the year made 
memorable by the birth of Washington. He gave out 
that he was an ordained minister of the Lutheran Church, 
and he was believed by the people, and his acts were 
afterwards accepted as authentic. He spoke and acted 
with authority, and did everything in a businesslike way. 
He was bold enough to demand his pay before the service 
began, and allowed himself to be well paid for all his acts. 
In some respects he did more to prepare the way for 
Muhlenberg than anyone else. He united the three 
congregations of Philadelphia, New Providence, and New 
Hanover into one parish, and urged them to send himself 
and several members on a collecting tour to Germany for 
the purpose of securing funds for churches and school- 
houses, and ministers and teachers for the people. He 
declared himself ready to set out for this hazardous 
journey in the spring of 1733. Before leaving he ordained 
John Caspar Stoever, Jr., for the work in Pennsylvania 
(happy consummation for young Stoever), and his father 
for Virginia, thus playing the role of an organizer and 
manager in a wise way. But we fear it was all business 
with him. In Germany he went astray, appropriating to 
his own use money that he had collected for the congre- 
gations in America. Consequently he never returned, and 
we lose sight of him in church history. Eventually, as a 

100 



PIONEERS THAT PREPARED THE WAY 

result of the letters written by the three congregations 
united by this man, whose name was John Christian 
Schulz, Pastor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg was called 
and sent to Philadelphia. He proved himself to be 
Germany's greatest gift to America, and the pioneers that 
prepared the way for him, prepared the way for the great- 
est of all the German Lutheran pioneers. His name is 
linked forever with the beginnings of organized Luther- 
anism in America. 

IOI 



XI 
GERMANY'S GREATEST GIFT TO AMERICA 

A few years ago Prof. Albert B. Faust, of Cornell Uni- 
versity, Ithaca, New York, won a prize of three thousand 
dollars by writing the best production on the subject, 
"The German Element in the United States." It is a 
large work of two six-hundred-page volumes. In it the 
author gives an estimate of the value of the German 
immigration by considering both the readiness of the 
Germans to become one with the interests of the new 
country and the favorable influence they exerted by their 
untiring industry and enterprise upon the land and 
people of their adopted home. 

By the most carefully conducted calculations Professor 
Faust estimates that there are over eight million Germans 
and descendants of Germans in our country. When we 
consider all this stream of humanity that for over two 
hundred years has been pouring into America in ever in- 
creasing volume, it must be granted that Germany has 
made heavy contributions to the settlement and develop- 
ment of our country. The influence of the Germans has 
sometimes been depreciated, but a careful perusal of these 
two volumes and of other writings on the same subject 
will convince any unprejudiced reader that every asser- 
tion made by Professor Faust is true. 

102 





■ 








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Henry Melchior Muhlenberg 



GERMANY'S GREATEST GIFT TO AMERICA 

The Lutheran Church, having a membership that is in 
large proportion of German extraction, can claim a fair 
share of the good done by Germans to America. She is 
not alone, that is true, yet no one other portion of the 
German element is so large and strong as that represented 
by the Lutheran Church. What the Church of the 
Reformation has done for the good of America through her 
wandering children and their descendents, is beyond the 
power of computation. To Germany must be given the 
honor of making an enormous contribution to America's 
development, even though that contribution is an invol- 
untary one. 

Among the Lutherans that came to America from 
Germany undoubtedly the greatest was Henry Melchior 
Muhlenberg, and, we make bold to say, the greatest among 
all Germans that have found a home in the New World. 
Inasmuch as he did not come on his own account, but 
was sent by the German church authorities centered at 
Halle, we rightly call him Germany's gift, for he is more 
than a contribution. And we make bold to call him 
Germany's greatest gift to America, for he was the greatest 
German that ever came to America — the Luther of 
America. Nor is it sufficient to say that he is Germany's 
greatest gift to the Lutheran Church of America. He has 
been a signal blessing to our whole land and the greatest 
that has its source in Germany. 

The foundation of the posterity of a country is the 
Christian home. 

We all remember reading the account of the Englishman 
who came to our country to find out where the real strength 

103 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

of our land lies. He first went to New York City and 
examined our marts, the immense office buildings, the 
factories and the shipping facilities, and he concluded that 
it was business and commerce. Then he went to New 
Haven, Boston and Princeton and viewed the wonderful 
institutions of learning with their halls, libraries, and 
laboratories, and he concluded that it was education. 
Then he turned to Washington, the Capital of our great 
Republic, and looked with amazement upon the Capitol, 
the temples of legislation, the treasury building, and the 
many others equally large and massive, and he felt com- 
pelled to change his previous conclusions and decided that 
the strength of the American Republic must lie in its 
government. In the evening of the day when he beheld 
all these magnificent marble structures, he visited a 
friend and related his experience. His friend answered, 
"You have not yet found the true source of our strength. 
All the things you have mentioned are indeed important, 
and we Americans are very proud of them, but come with 
me and I shall show you where our real strength lies." 
They walked, along the beautiful streets together for 
some distance and stopped at the door of a modest dwell- 
ing house. Upon entering they found a father, mother, 
and four children. Upon the center-table lay books and 
magazines that the parents evidently had been reading; 
the children were engaged with their school-books. In- 
telligent conversation made the minutes pass rapidly, and 
about nine o'clock the visitors noticed a restlessness among 
the children and there was whispering between the chil- 
dren and the mother, so that the father's attention was 

104 



GERMANY'S GREATEST GIFT TO AMERICA 

attracted, and he said to the visitors, " Excuse me, but 
our children retire about this time, and before doing so we 
have our family prayers. You will please join us, and we 
can then continue our conversation." The father then 
took up the Bible, read a portion of its precious word, led 
in the repeating of the twenty-third Psalm, had each one 
repeat a verse of the Scriptures from memory, and offered 
a brief prayer, closing with the Lord's Prayer. With an 
affectionate "Good night/' the children left the room. 

After lingering awhile longer the visitors bade adieu to 
their friends. When they were on the street again, the 
American said to the Englishman, "There lies our strength, 
in the Christian home." 

It is a true assertion, and well for us as a people if it is 
never forgotten. Mothers hold the key to the prosperity 
of America because they hold the key to the home. But 
that key is the cradle, for "the hand that rocks the cradle 
is the hand that rules the world." 

Muhlenberg was a home builder. He himself, the 
Church in which he served his Master, the land in which 
he was born, all alike have ever laid the greatest stress 
upon the importance of the home and the training of the 
children within it. All his labors tended to encourage the 
material and spiritual interests of the fireside. No one 
emphasized this more than he, and in no way could he have 
done more for our land than by giving careful and unre- 
mitting attention to the needs of the home. 

The arch that rests upon this foundation of the Christian 
home is the school. Germany is and has been the school- 
house of the world, and she sent many good teachers to 

105 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

our land even in colonial times. Muhlenberg had been a 
teacher before coming to America. He was a teacher 
before he was ordained and in charge of a school as 
superintendent when called to go to America. Upon his 
arrival here he spent one week in rotation at each of his 
three congregations, teaching school five days of the week 
and attending to his parish and pulpit work the other two 
days. He was a good teacher, as we can easily infer from 
his success. Country lads, strong and muscular, some of 
them nineteen years of age and over, came to him with 
their primers and spellers and he encouraged them to 
learn. He built a schoolhouse at the side of every church, 
urged the fathers in Europe to send teachers, encouraged 
Benjamin Franklin in the founding and establishment of 
the Academy of Philadelphia, acted as trustee of the pro- 
vincial free schools, planned the beginning of an orphan 
house and seminary for the training of ministers and teach- 
ers, actually setting aside a certain plot of ground for it, 
and furnished a son for the presidency of Franklin College 
at Lancaster who became one of the leading scientists of 
America. Muhlenberg was a teacher in word and deed, 
and he left the impress of his educational labors on Church 
and State. 

The keystone of the American arch of strength is the 
Church. Without religion America would be weak in its 
depravity. It is strong because it has granted religious 
freedom in its Constitution and placed the name of God on 
its money. Not all people support the Church, but all 
enjoy its blessings and no one wants to live where there is 
no Church. It is the bulwark of our land, and they that 

1 06 



GERMANY'S GREATEST GIFT TO AMERICA 

have labored for the Church have labored for the land. 
As a worker in the Church none could be greater than 
Muhlenberg. As a preacher, as a pastor, as a scholar, as 
an organizer, he has won the admiration of ail writers of 
his own times and especially of succeeding generations, 
not only within the bounds of his own Church, but writers 
of other denominations have voluntarily ascribed to him 
the greatest virtues, talents, and accomplishments. He 
made the wisest use of experience, endured patiently all 
trials and discouragements, and looked into the future 
with the joyful vision of a seer. 

Therefore we can rightly say that in the construction 
of the American arch of prosperity, Muhlenberg was a 
very important instrument, and the greatest of all the 
builders that came from Germany. He may not have 
been the greatest individual teacher; he may not have been 
the greatest preacher (though we know none greater); 
he may not have been the greatest home builder, but all 
these constructive qualities were so united in Muhlen- 
berg that we have in him one possessed of the working 
power of three or four extraordinary individuals. 

In another respect, Muhlenberg was Germany's greatest 
gift to America. The temple of American independence 
was reared, not with square and trowel, but with gun and 
sword, and its principles were forged in the brain of true 
statesmanship. Muhlenberg was neither soldier nor states- 
man, but he and all his family strongly sympathized with 
the colonies in their stupendous struggle for liberty. He 
suffered many privations and brought down upon himself 
and his family the denunciations of British wrath, but he 

107 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

remained firm in his convictions and his contributions in 
self-denial and self-sacrifice were very heavy. Others gave 
only of their means, but he is one of those who gave of his 
flesh and blood, for his son Peter became one of the most 
active generals, serving from the beginning to the end of 
the war. While the war was still in progress another son 
of the patriarch answered the call of the people to the 
Continental Congress. The churches served by Muhlen- 
berg in Philadelphia united with other German churches 
and sent a letter to the Germans of North and South 
Carolina urging them to support the cause of liberty. 
Thus it is seen what an important factor Muhlenberg was 
in the founding of our American republic. 

As a direct help to our country let us notice that of the 
three sons of Muhlenberg, two entered the service of the 
State and served for many years, first in Pennsylvania, 
and then in the Congress of the United States; of his four 
daughters, one was the mother of Governor Schultze of 
Pennsylvania; the second was the wife of the greatest 
preacher and scholar sent over from Germany next to 
her father; the third married General Francis Swaine, 
an officer in the army of the Revolution, and the 
fourth married Matthias Richards, a member of Con- 
gress, and became the mother of a long line of Lutheran 
ministers. 

The prophecy on Muhlenberg's grave reads: 

"Who and What He Was 
Future Ages Will Know 
Without a Stone." 
i 08 



GERMANY'S GREATEST GIFT TO AMERICA 

It is true. His works do follow him, and his memory 
is growing more and more precious year by year. He 
belongs to the whole Church and to all the nation. Dr. 
Morris says of him, "He was a man of extraordinary 
powers and high culture, and intense devotion to his work, 
whose labors were probably more influential in moulding 
the destinies of the Lutheran Church than those of any 
other individual have ever been." Had he not been sent 
to America, he would nevertheless have become a great 
man, but Germany would not then have the honor of 
having sent her greatest gift to America in the person of 
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. 

109 



XII 

THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

Few of our readers living in eastern Pennsylvania have 
not seen the Old Trappe Church. For years it has been 
the Mecca of lovers of colonial history, and every summer 
the special services held within its ancient walls attract 
many worshipers, visitors, and pilgrims. It is practically 
the only material landmark of the labors of the patriarch 
of the Lutheran Church in America. His literary and 
prophetic monuments have been more graciously spared 
and preserved; as, for instance, his Halle reports, diaries, 
journals, autobiography, his plans for a seminary, and his 
suggestions for a common service. His greatest material 
work no doubt was the erection of the large and beautiful 
Zion church that formerly stood at Fourth and Cherry 
Streets, Philadelphia. It was built of brick, over one 
hundred feet long and seventy feet wide. It was dedicated 
in the year 1769. For years it was the largest and most 
magnificent church in the province. In it Congress held 
its service of thanksgiving upon the surrender of Cornwallis 
at Yorktown and also the memorial service at the death 
of Washington. Many years ago it gave way to the on- 
ward march of business and commerce. Its successor is 
the beautiful brown stone church on Franklin Street. 
This makes the Old Trappe Church the more interesting 
and its preservation the more important. May the actors 

no 



THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

now on the scene of activity heed Solomon's injunction, 
" Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have 
set." The generations which have worshiped within its 
walls have loved it and admired it. I fear those who pass 
by from day to day or gaze upon it as they enter the new 
edifice of worship do not realize what this temple meant to 
those who lie buried in the God's acre beyond the church, 
nor what this mute monument signifies to all true lovers 
of history. 

Strange that the first church that Muhlenberg built 
should be the one to withstand the elements of destruc- 
tion and the encroachments of traffic the longest. Fortu- 
nately this is the case, as the building at the Trappe is the 
first one that the patriarch planned to erect. At New 
Hanover the members w T ere using a new, though unfinished 
block church, and at Philadelphia so much difficulty was 
experienced in securing a lot, that the work at New Provi- 
dence was in advance of the work at Philadelphia, and the 
Trappe church was used six weeks before the Philadelphia 
church. These facts make the Old Trappe Church the 
more dear to our hearts and lead us to rejoice over the good 
fortune that loving hands and a kind Providence have 
preserved it to our generation. 

In connection with his fourth service, held in the barn 
at the Trappe in January, 1743, Muhlenberg first spoke 
of building a church. His suggestion met with a prompt 
response. He urged the building of one of stone, as he 
had noticed that wooden buildings were of brief duration 
in America. The members of the New Hanover con- 
gregation were using their third building, and it seemed 

in 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

that the time of a wooden structure was scarcely twenty 
years. To use stone would add to the labor and expense 
of the work, but Muhlenberg made them feel that it would 
be the wisest course, inasmuch as they were building for 
themselves and their children. The history of the erection 
of the Old Swedes Church at Wilmington, Delaware, was 
repeated. Stones were quarried during the winter months 
and hauled on sledges to the place selected for the building. 
With the opening of spring the work of laying the stone 
began and on the second day of May the corner stone 
was laid. On this occasion the pastor preached a sermon 
from one of the minor prophets. It was a most happy 
choice of text and we shall quote the words in full. "But 
it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not 
day nor night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening 
time it shall be light." After the sermon he made an 
address in English, for the benefit of those who had not 
understood the sermon. He had been in America but five 
months, and how was it possible that he could make an 
address in the English tongue? He had wisely begun the 
study of English in his university course at Gottingen, 
and even there acquired sufficient knowledge of the lan- 
guage to write an essay of considerable length in English. 
On his way to America he stopped several months in 
London. This stay gave him the opportunity of getting 
a practical knowledge of the language. On board the 
vessel across the ocean he often spoke to the passengers 
and crew in English on Scriptural subjects and held services 
for them. The first address that he delivered on American 
soil was in the English language and spoken near the city 

112 




53 

U 



THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

of Charleston on his way to Savannah. This shows us 
how well equipped Muhlenberg was for his work in 
America. Later on he learned to understand Swedish 
and to preach in Dutch. 

At the time of the corner stone laying the church was 
named Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, in honor 
of Augustus Herman Francke and his son, Gotthilf 
Augustus Francke, the founders of the famous Halle 
Orphan House and the World's Missionary Institute, and 
the friends and promoters of the Canstein Foreign Bible 
Society founded in 1710. 

The foundation of the church was made large and 
substantial. The measurements were fifty-four feet long 
and thirty-nine feet wide. The walls were built high 
enough for galleries. The building was covered with a 
hip roof and the south end was made semi-hexagonal in 
shape. The north and west sides were furnished with por- 
ticoes. These features give it a peculiar colonial appear- 
ance all its own. The building stands parallel to the pike, 
called at that time the Great Road. 

The work of construction from the time of the laying of 
the corner stone continued without interruption. Most 
of the labor was performed by the members, and when the 
harvest called them away from this work, the women and 
children took their places and carried mortar and stone 
and prepared the shingles. Their love, devotion, and 
activity greatly cheered the heart of the pastor. The 
church was built of a beautiful red stone, still found 
abundantly in Montgomery County. It remained in this 
condition until the year 1814, when a spirit of liberality 

"3 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

manifested itself among the devoted people, and the walls 
were covered with a very durable plaster. At the same 
time many other improvements were made within and 
without the building. 

The friends and members of the Old Trappe Church 
have never failed to appreciate the wonderful services of 
the Rev. Ernest T. Kretschmann, Ph. D., pastor of the 
Augustus congregation from 1889 to 1895, rendered by him 
in the preparation of an excellent history, called "The Old 
Trappe Church." It is a model for congregational his- 
tories. The work displays the fine historic taste and spirit 
of the writer. Its accurate statement of facts and fine 
illustrations make it very valuable for future generations. 

The Lutheran Church of America owes much to the Au- 
gustus congregation for protecting this ancient landmark 
against destruction and preserving it as a monument. 
Not only the walls have been preserved, but its internal 
appointments as far as possible. The officers have also had 
regard for the safekeeping of the records and other valu- 
able treasures. A few years ago a safe was bought in 
which the minute books, pulpit Bible and sacramental 
vessels are kept. Dr. Sachse's picture of these relics is so 
fine that we feel compelled to have it reproduced for the 
benefit of our readers. 

The records go back to the year 1730, when John Caspar 
Stoever, Jr., made his first entry. Some of the vessels 
are gifts of friends in Europe. 

It was with great joy that Muhlenberg held his first 
service in the new sanctuary, September 12, 1743. Its 
walls were still bare and the seats few and rough. The 

114 




u 

<v 

ft 
ft 



s 



3 
Ph 

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ffi 



THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

ground was covered with "puncheons," as they called the 
rough-hewn logs that formed the flooring. Though un- 
finished, it was infinitely better than the old barn. It took 
two years longer to finish it and get it ready for dedica- 
tion. The glad day of consecration was October 6, 
1745. Muhlenberg was no longer alone. In the pre- 
ceding winter helpers arrived from Halle and were present 
to assist in the joyful services. Another one was also 
present who had driven away his loneliness. Muhlenberg 
had wisely married. His bride was a young American 
woman, who made an excellent helpmeet for him. Her 
name was Miss Anna Maria Weiser. 

The finished structure had cost £293 15s. sid. Six 
years later this sum was considerably increased by the 
purchase of a pipe organ and the erection of a gallery for 
it. The organ was secured from Germany through the 
medium of Gottlieb Mittelberger, who had brought 
over an organ for St. Michael's at Philadelphia. 

In connection with the services of dedication, Muhlen- 
berg baptized three negro slaves. They received the names 
John, Jacob, and Thomas. Did ever anything come of 
this baptism? Only eternity can tell how much it meant. 
Still the earthly records give one sequel at least. Twenty 
years afterwards, when Muhlenberg lived in Philadelphia, 
John brought his own child to him to have it baptized as 
he had been. When we read of these cases of the interest 
the early pioneers in New York, Pennsylvania, and Geor- 
gia took in the spiritual welfare of negroes, we feel as 
though the Lutheran Church ought to have many ad- 
herents among the members of the black race. 

115 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

A hundred years rolled by and the church was still 
standing. In the meantime three wars had passed over 
the province and commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The 
temple of worship had been by force more than once turned 
into a hospital and its surrounding fields into grazing 
grounds for war horses. The country had become a free 
land. The Augustus Lutheran Church was still throwing 
open its doors and the German tongue still resounded 
within its walls, interspersed with regular English ser- 
vices. The close of the first century was suitably cele- 
brated in the pastorate of the Rev. Henry S. Miller. The 
Rev. J. W. Richards, a former pastor and a grandson of 
the builder of the church, was invited to deliver the an- 
niversary address. He chose for his text Ps. 78 : 2-8, 
and under the title of "The Fruitful Retrospect," gave 
an excellent historical sketch of the church. He himself 
was intensely interested in the early history of the Luth- 
eran Church in America and contributed many articles 
of lasting value on historical and biographical subjects. 
His "Fruitful Retrospect" was published by request of 
the Trappe congregation, and is still extant in a few 
copies. Two of them have found their way into the 
hands of the writer, and he prizes them very highly. 

The centenary celebration was indeed a fruitful occasion, 
as it greatly encouraged the people and made them 
realize the value of their church. It was beginning to be 
too small, and some felt as though it should be removed 
and a larger building erected. But love and devotion 
preserved it, and when the larger church was built in 1852 
this noble landmark was spared and the new church 

116 



THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

found a very suitable place at its side. In i860 the old 
church was suddenly threatened with destruction. The 
elements of the heavens turned their forces upon it and a 
large part of the roof was torn off, but the walls withstood 
the assault, and the lovers of the sanctuary once more 
came to its relief, especially the Rev. Dr. William Augustus 
Muhlenberg, an Episcopal rector and philanthropist of 
New York, a great-grandson of the patriarch, and by 
their liberality repaired the damage done and otherwise 
improved it. At the reopening the rector, upon invitation 
of the people, came and made the address. It was after- 
wards published, and a copy is in the possession of the 
writer. This visit of Dr. Muhlenberg made a very deep 
impression upon him, and he never lost his love for the Old 
Trappe Church and the work of his ancestors and kinsmen. 
When another fifty years had passed by after the cen- 
tenary celebration, Dr. Kretschmann was the pastor, and 
under his leadership the sesqui-centennial of the building 
of the church was fittingly celebrated. Two services were 
held simultaneously both morning and afternoon, one in 
each sanctuary. At the morning service in the new 
church Dr. J. Fry preached the sermon. The chief ser- 
vice in the old church was fittingly conducted in the 
German language and Dr. Spaeth preached the sermon. 
Dr. Fry is a child of the Old Trappe Church and Dr. 
Spaeth was one of the foremost German speakers of his 
day. With this celebration it was decided to hold public 
service in the old church every summer, and it was the 
good fortune of the writer to conduct the first of these 
services. His text for the day was, " Remember the 

117 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Lord afar off and let Jerusalem come into your mind." 
This was in the summer of 1894. 

This historic shrine has been honored by many prom- 
inent visitors. Washington was there October 5, 1777. 
He did not come to attend a service, for the church was 
then used as a hospital by the American soldiers. He 
came to see the sick and wounded and spoke words of 
tender concern to them. He came frequently to the 
church, and no doubt was personally acquainted with 
Pastor Muhlenberg, for his son Peter was one of Washing- 
ton's intimate friends. One more prominent visitor we 
must mention, the poet Longfellow. When he was there 
we do not know, but that he sank deeply into the spirit 
of the history of the old monument is evidenced from the 
words of the poem he placed in his collection of "Poems 
of Places." We shall conclude this sketch with this beau- 
tiful and appropriate selection. 

The House Our Fathers Built 
In the heat of a day in September 

We came to the old church door, 
We bared our heads, I remember, 

On the step that the moss covered o'er. 
There the vines climbed over and under, 
And we trod with a reverent wonder 

Through the dust of the years on the floor. 

From the dampness and darkness and stillness 

No resonant chantings outrolled, 
And the air with its vaporous dullness 

Covered altar and column with mold, 
For the pulpit had lost its old glory, 
And its greatness become but a story, 

By the aged still lovingly told. 
Il8 



THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH 

O'er the graves 'neath the long waving grasses 
In summer the winds lightly blow, 

And the phantoms come forth from the masses 
Of deep tangled ivy that grow, 

Through the aisles at midnight they wander, — 

At noon of the loft they are fonder, — 
Unhindered they come and they go. 

And it seemed that a breath of a spirit, 

Like a zephyr at cool of the day, 
Passed o'er us and then we could hear it 

In the loft through the organ pipes play. 
All the aisles and the chancel seemed haunted, 
And weird anthems by voices were chanted 

Where dismantled the organ's pipes lay. 

Came the warrior who, robed as a colonel, 
Led his men to the fight from the prayer, 

And the pastor who tells in his journal 
What he saw in the sunlight's bright glare, 

How a band of wild troopers danced under 

While the organ was pealing its thunder 
In gay tunes on the sanctified air. 

And Gottlieb, colonial musician, 
Once more had come over the seas, 

And sweet to the slave and the patrician 
Were the sounds of his low melodies; 

Once again came the tears, the petition, 

Soul-longings and heartfelt contrition 
At his mystical touch on the keys. 

There joined in the prayers of the yeomen 
For the rulers and high in command, 

The statesman who prayed that the foeman 
Might perish by sea and by land: 

And flowers from herbariums Elysian 

Long pressed, yet still sweet, in the vision 
Were strewn by a spiritual hand. 

n 9 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

There were saints, — there were souls heavy-laden 

With the burden of sins unconfessed. 
In the shadow there lingered a maiden 

With a babe to her bosom close pressed, 
And the peace that exceeds understanding 
Borne on odors of blossoms expanding 

Forever abode in her breast. 

Then hushed were the prayers and the chorus 
As we gazed through the gloom o'er the pews, 

And the phantoms had gone from before us 
By invisible dark avenues, 

And slowly we passed through the portals 

In awe from the haunts of immortals 

Who had vanished like summer's light dues. 

O Church! that of old proudly flourished, 

Upon Thee decay gently falls, 
And the founders by whom Thou wert nourished 

Lie low in the shade of Thy walls; 
No stone need those pioneer sages 
To tell their good works to the ages: 

Thy ruin their greatness recalls. 
1 20 




J*£o%%£.*cCc<Kf. 



The Lutheran Church in Salzburg 



XIII 
THE SALZBURGER EXILES IN GEORGIA 

Probably the colony of purest form and most per- 
manent character planted on American soil was the one 
established by the Salzburgers in Georgia in 1734, known 
as Ebenezer. There were many others, both commercial 
and religious, but they were either dispersed by enemies, 
disrupted by internal troubles, absorbed by new settlers, 
or lost in the change and development of their surround- 
ings. Ebenezer preserved its colonial character unchanged 
by incoming or surrounding influence longer than any 
other American colony. 

The Salzburgers were Lutheran exiles driven from 
Austria, and were so called because they came from the 
province of Salzburg. This province lies directly east of 
Bavaria and was formerly under the rule of German 
princes, and therefore the people speak German. The 
Tyrolese Alps run through the province, and it is supposed 
that the Waldensians, driven from their homes in early 
centuries, followed the line of the mountains and found a 
refuge in Salzburg and other provinces of Austria, carry- 
ing the seed of the gospel with them. When the Reforma- 
tion broke out over Europe, Austria remained a strong 
Catholic country, but in Salzburg there was a prepared 
soil for the teachers from Wittenberg and many became 

121 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

earnest followers of the standard of justification by faith 
alone. The treaty following the Thirty Years' War gave 
many countries of Europe religious freedom, including 
Austria. But a ruler arose in Salzburg who cared nothing 
for treaties, but only for the Roman Catholic Church. He 
determined to rid his province of everyone who would not 
be a Catholic. Then follows a story of command, en- 
forcement, compulsion, prosecution, imprisonment, op- 
pression, persecution, banishment, want, suffering, sepa- 
ration of husband and wife, of parents and children, loss 
of books, home, property and country, and exile, with all 
its sorrows, hardships and deprivations, that cannot be 
told here. With sorrowful realization of their meaning, 
many pious Salzburgers sang the words of Luther's hymn: 

"Take they then our life, 
Goods, fame, child, and wife; 
When their worst is done, 
They yet have nothing won, 
The kingdom ours remaineth." 

To them came in the strongest manner the words of 
Holy Writ, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of 
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his 
sake." 

Expelled from the land they loved, they scattered all 
over Germany and penetrated even as far as Holland. 
The Lutheran cities and states received them with open 
doors and lovingly cared for them. King Frederick 
William of Prussia provided homes for thousands of them 
in the eastern part of his realm where their descendants 
are found to this day. The English people invited others 

122 



THE SALZBURGER EXILES IN GEORGIA 

to accept a home in the new province of Georgia, estab- 
lished by General James Oglethorpe. 

The pastor of St. Ann's Lutheran Church at Augsburg 
interested himself in the American project and collected 
a number of exiles in his city. He appointed teachers for 
the children while the preparations were under way, and 
prepared the adults for the celebration of the Lord's 
Supper by holding daily services. Wagons were secured 
for the transportation of the baggage and the women and 
children, and thus they journeyed to the banks of the river 
Main, where they all embarked, and reaching the Rhine 
sailed down the grand and majestic stream till they came 
to Rotterdam. The journey from Augsburg to Rotterdam 
consumed four weeks. It was a great pilgrimage. The 
historians, Bancroft, Stevens, Strobel, Jacobs and many 
others grow eloquent as they dwell upon the heroic courage 
and sublime faith of these pilgrims. 

At Rotterdam the two pastors that were to accompany 
them to their new home in America joined them, and the 
candidate of theology who had come with them from 
Augsburg bade them farewell and returned to his home. 
Baron von Reck was in charge of the emigrants by appoint- 
ment of the king of England, and guided them in all 
material matters. He was a wise and pious man and 
eminently fitted for the position. Their two spiritual 
leaders were educated at Halle and were ordained for the 
purpose of accompanying the exiles as their permanent 
pastors. They were both young men of sterling spiritual 
character, and proved themselves to be excellently 
adapted for the hard work they were called to perform. 

123 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

The leader of the two was John Martin Bolzius. He 
remained their guide and shepherd for thirty-two years. 
The second was Israel Christian Gronau, who stood 
faithfully at the side of the chief shepherd to his early 
end in 1745. 

From Rotterdam the exiles went to England, to await 
the leaving of their vessel for America. Pastor Bolzius 
began his journal Thursday, November 7th, the day he 
and his companion left Halle. After reaching England he 
found that his calendar was ten days in advance of the one 
used in England, and he therefore changed his reckoning 
from the new style to the old. Germany adopted the new 
calendar in 1700, but England continued to use the old till 
1752. The days of waiting were spent by the pastors in 
teaching the people things temporal and spiritual, and 
fortifying them for the trials of the journey before them. 
The Lutheran pastor of London visited them, as well as 
many English officials. While here they were asked to 
swear allegiance to the English crown. Finally, Tuesday, 
January 8, 1734, their vessel, "Purisburg," under Captain 
Coram, set sail from Dover. The journey from this time 
lasted just about two months. The pastors held daily ser- 
vices for the passengers morning and evening, unless pre- 
vented by storms. Tuesday, March 5th, land was seen 
from the masthead, and on the following Thursday Pastor 
Bolzius was carried to Charleston in a sloop. Though 
so early in the spring the gardens and fields were green 
and everything looked very inviting. Bolzius found a 
number of German Lutherans in the town, who promised 
to come to the Salzburger settlement for the purpose of 

124 




Pastor Bolzius 



THE SALZBURGER EXILES IN GEORGIA 

receiving the Lord's Supper. The printery in the town 
was run by a German by the name of Timotheus. Here, to 
the surprise and joy of all, General Oglethorpe met them. 
He was about to return to England for additional colonists, 
but when he heard of the arrival of the Salzburgers he at 
once sent fresh meat, water, and vegetables on the boat 
and provided the ship with a pilot. He promised to 
return to Savannah in a few days to aid the newcomers. 
Sunday, March ioth, the "Purisburg" first came in sight 
of the green outlines of Georgia. The waters were calm, 
the sky cloudless, the air serene, and joy filled the hearts 
of the pious pilgrims. They sang their hymns of praise 
with unusual heartiness and edified themselves wdth the 
word of God. Pastor Bolzius spoke to them on the gospel 
for the day. It was Reminiscere Sunday, and the lesson 
for the day relates how the Saviour, weary of oppression, 
left his homeland in Galilee and crossing the borders went 
into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. In like manner they 
had left their home weary of persecution, and were now 
about to touch the shores of a strange land. That night 
their vessel ran on a sand bar, in the mouth of the Savan- 
nah, and their hearts sank. All day Monday was spent 
in painful watching and waiting. That night the Lord, 
in His kind providence, gave them the help of both wind 
and tide, and about ten o'clock the boat floated off into the 
deep waters of the river. There the pilot anchored until 
Tuesday morning, when with great joy they sailed up the 
Savannah to the city which Oglethorpe had founded the 
year before. By noon they began to disembark. Tuesday, 
March 12th, is therefore a day of great historic importance 

125 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

among the Salzburgers. It marked the end of their long 
and perilous journey and the beginning of bright prospects 
of religious freedom and material prosperity. 

Their reception at Savannah was a very cordial one. 
Cannons were fired and the settlers all rushed to the boat 
landing and received the new arrivals with open arms. 
Tents were erected and all were temporarily cared for in a 
hospitable manner. In a day or two Oglethorpe arrived 
from Charleston, and a party was formed for the purpose of 
locating the colonists. In this company were Oglethorpe, 
Baron von Reck, Pastor Gronau, Dr. Zwifier, and several 
Indian guides and hunters. They selected a site twenty- 
five miles north of Savannah, on the banks of a creek, and 
out of gratitude named both the location and the creek 
Ebenezer. This place is three or four miles south of 
Springfield, the county seat of Effingham County. When 
visited a few years ago by the writer it was still unmarked, 
and nothing could be found to serve as a relic of the old 
settlement except a piece of burnt clay, which no doubt 
formed a part of a bake oven. The site calls loudly for 
some monument or tablet, lest the historic spot be for- 
gotten by coming generations. 

Immediately upon the selection of the site, able-bodied 
men were sent in advance to clear the place and erect 
sheds for dwelling places. To each colonist was given 
fifty acres of ground for his house, garden, and fields, and 
provisions until he could provide for himself and family. 
The first structure of a public nature that was erected was 
a shed for school purposes. In this they also gathered 
for their daily and Sunday services. 

126 



THE SALZBURGER EXILES IN GEORGIA 

In less than a year the number of the colonists was 
increased by the arrival of the second transport, under the 
leadership of Mr. Vatt. The third transport came a few 
years later in the care of Baron von Reck. The fourth 
transport under John F. Vigera arrived in 1741. It was 
the last addition of Salzburgers coming in a company. 
After this they arrived in small groups, as in the case of a 
family that came in the same boat with Muhlenberg. 
After the Salzburgers had labored in their American 
home for two years, they concluded that their location 
on the banks of the Ebenezer Creek was not a favor- 
able one, and with General Oglethorpe's permission they 
moved six miles east to the banks of the Savannah. With 
much labor and many hardships they re-established them- 
selves in their new home, which with unchanging grati- 
tude they called New Ebenezer. 

Here again, just as soon as their plain cottages of boards 
and planks were finished, they built a shed for the school 
and for the public services and meetings. The impres- 
sion has been created that the first public building erected 
by these pious pioneers was a church. But this is wrong. 
They never neglected their worship, but they used the 
schoolroom for their sanctuary. Not even after the 
schoolhouse was built did they begin the erection of a 
place of worship. Another project was in their minds and 
hearts. It was an orphan house, after the pattern of the 
great Halle institutions, that they desired to bring into 
existence. There was a great need for it, and they rested 
not until their hopes were realized. Early one morning 
in November, 1737, the workmen called at the house of 

127 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Pastor Bolzius and informed him that they were ready to 
break ground for the home. He accompanied them and 
with a Scripture lesson, prayer, and sermon ground was 
piously broken for this noble enterprise. When it was 
done, a large frame building stood in their colony, of 
which they could feel justly proud. It was forty-five feet 
wide and fifteen feet deep, two stories high. Each floor 
was divided into three rooms. To the rear of the building 
were a kitchen, bake oven, stable, hennery and other 
smaller buildings. 

It was dedicated with much joy and thanksgiving 
January 10, 1738, and the superintendent, Ruprecht 
Kalcher, with his family and the orphans he had gathered 
about him in his home, entered the new institution of 
mercy. It was the first Protestant orphanage built in 
the colonies, and it was in operation two and a half 
years before Bethesda, Whitefield's orphanage near 
Savannah, opened its doors. It had many distinguished 
visitors, among them Muhlenberg, Oglethorpe and many 
English officers of Savannah, and in particular George 
Whitefield, who was known throughout all the colonies as 
a preacher and philanthropist. 

This home was always spoken of as an orphanage, but a 
better name would have been an asylum for all cases of 
need. From the start orphans and widows were cared for 
within its walls. At the time of Whitefield's visit there 
were seventeen orphans and three widows in the home. In 
addition to these, the sick were received. Mothers who 
could not be properly cared for in their bare homes found 
a welcome here. A man troubled with sore eyes was shel- 

128 



THE SALZBURGER EXILES IN GEORGIA 

tered and treated here for a long time. The Salzburger 
family that crossed the ocean with Muhlenberg, consisting 
of parents and three small girls, were kept here for a whole 
year on account of the father's poor health. A converted 
Jew was in the colony, a tailor by trade. He was afflicted 
with tuberculosis and begged to be allowed to live in the 
orphanage and sew for the colonists as he was able. His 
joy and gratitude knew no bounds when the request was 
granted. His name was Solomon Levi, but upon his con- 
version he changed it to Johann Gottfried (John Godfrey), 
for he said, I must "praise Jehovah" (John) for the 
" peace of God" (Godfrey) I have found in the Christian 
religion. 

This building continued to be used for its varied pur- 
poses of mercy until the improved conditions of the colony 
no longer demanded an asylum of this kind. It was 
then enlarged and used for school purposes. This was in 

I7SO. 

The first church building in the colony was dedicated 
October 1, 1741. A year later the second church was 
built three miles south of Ebenezer for the benefit of the 
colonists living on plantations along the road to Savan- 
nah. The first was called Jerusalem Church and the 
second Zion. These became favored names among the 
Salzburgers. 

In the meantime the town of Ebenezer grew and the 
people became firmly established. The town was well laid 
out. Church and orphanage stood at one end and the 
cemetery was located at the other. Three streets ran 
parallel through the town, and two intersected these three 

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LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

at right angles. Good roads were built and a mill stream, 
with rice stamper, saw mill and grist mill, was constructed. 
Farm, garden, and orchard rejoiced the hearts of the 
colonists with their products. The neighboring Indians 
befriended them, and no one from without interfered 
with the regular operation of the settlement. Pastors, 
schoolmasters, and doctors worked harmoniously together 
to the great joy of all. Ebenezer was, indeed, a true and 
complete colony, continuing uninterruptedly in its work- 
ings according to its established purposes of religion, 
education, and life. 

130 , 



XIV 

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY AMONG THE 
SALZBURGERS 

When the first twenty years of the Salzburger settle- 
ment at Ebenezer, Georgia, had passed by, the colony 
found itself at the highest point of its growth and devel- 
opment. The number of the original settlers had been 
increased by the arrival of three transports of Germans 
from Wurttemberg. With these a third missionary had 
been sent to the growing colony. His name was Christian 
Rabenhorst and he arrived in December, 1752. 

The era of prosperity began fully ten years before this 
climax was reached and was marked by the first visit of 
Muhlenberg in October, 1742, and extended to the death 
of the senior pastor in 1765. After the beginning of the 
French and Indian War in 1755, immigration ceased and 
the colony experienced no further growth from without, 
but the internal peace and prosperity continued for ten 
years more. 

In this era of twenty-three years the colonists enjoyed 
material prosperity. They had learned to cultivate their 
fields successfully. They understood the soil and knew 
what to plant. Their equipments had improved, and the 
results were much better than in former years. At the 
saw mills they prepared lumber for trade through the port 

131 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

of Savannah. Their grist mills were a source of profit on 
account of the large amount of cereals brought for grind- 
ing. Settlers came from a distance with their corn, wheat, 
and rye and gladly paid for the work done. They also 
operated rice hullers and stampers and reaped some 
profit from this source. They paid particular attention 
to silk culture and built a large mill in the colony. Their 
income from the silk industry for a number of years was 
considerable. To this day a few Salzburgers make silk 
fishing lines. The colonists built a long causeway through 
the swamp on both sides of the bridge over Ebenezer 
Creek and for many years derived large revenues from 
tolls. This causeway still forms an important link in the 
Savannah-Augusta Road. The people in the colony 
lived in comfortable homes, surrounded by trees and 
flowers. The houses were usually one and a half stories 
high, with overhanging roof in front and often in back, 
which formed comfortable and convenient porches. 

Prosperity, too, was enjoyed in all educational matters. 
Schools were built alongside of every church and teachers 
employed for each one. The pastors assisted in the school 
work, teaching when regular teachers could not be secured 
and imparting religious instruction in all the schools at 
all times. Some of their schoolmasters became prominent 
men in the colony and province in after years. Vigera, 
the well-known teacher in the parochial schools of Phila- 
delphia, began his career as teacher at Ebenezer. Dr. 
Mayer, the surgeon of the colony, assisted as teacher and 
laid the foundation of the education of the young man 
who himself became a teacher in the colony and later 

132 




A Salzburger Home 



PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY AMONG SALZBURGERS 

was elected the first governor of Georgia under the con- 
stitution. His name was John Adam Treutlen. Wertsch 
and Waldhauer, two of the best informed men when 
Muhlenberg was in the colony in 1774, had both been 
teachers in their earlier days. 

But above all the Salzburgers lived in the enjoyment 
of spiritual prosperity. The number of churches had 
increased to four. In addition to these, services were held 
by the pastors as often as possible at Purysburg and 
Savannah. At Ebenezer they conducted services every 
Sunday two or three times and held an evening service 
every day. Communion was celebrated every six weeks. 
In the churches erected to accommodate the people living 
on the plantations to the north and south of Ebenezer, 
services were held every other Sunday and several times 
during the week. Farmers left their fields when the church 
bell rang and attended the week day services in their 
working clothes. The result of these frequent services 
was an enlightened and pious people. They lived in 
contentment and godliness and regarded their home in the 
wilderness of Georgia as a very pleasant place to live and 
a most blessed place to be in time of sickness and death. 
Pastor^ Bolzius described their condition truthfully in 
these words: "In great solitude and Christian simplicity, 
they have the means of salvation to prepare themselves 
for a blessed eternity." 

Beginning with December, 1752, there were three pas- 
tors in the colony. For thirteen years these faithful men 
labored most harmoniously side by side. Usually two 
lived in the town and one on a plantation to the south 

133 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

of Ebenezer. Every Tuesday morning the three pastors 
held a conference to the spiritual uplift of all three. They 
discussed the work that had been done, consulted in regard 
to the work that was to be done, read letters that had come 
from Europe, Pennsylvania and other points, considered 
Biblical, doctrinal, and practical questions, and with 
much earnest prayer and loving conversation they exem- 
plified the words written in Psalm 133, " Behold, how 
good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together 
in unity." 

This condition of spiritual prosperity and harmony 
among the pastors was enhanced by their frequent corre- 
spondence with the missionaries laboring in Pennsylvania, 
especially Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, Handschuh and others 
and the reading of the printed reports of their work and of 
the labors of the missionaries in India. It must not be 
forgotten that at this time Halle issued publications at ir- 
regular intervals, consisting of reports, letters, and diaries 
received from the Halle ministers in India, Pennsylvania, 
and Georgia, and these were sent to all three fields for the 
information and encouragement of their laborers. Muhl- 
enberg's letters and reports were of particular interest 
to them, for he was a personal friend of the colony. He 
never forgot the week he spent at Ebenezer, and when he 
wrote to the pastors there his vivid recollections of his 
pleasant experiences and of the happy condition of the 
people manifested themselves in every letter. In one of 
his letters to Pastor Bolzius, he went into ecstasies over 
the blessedness of Ebenezer in these words: "O dear 
Ebenezer, how many advantages dost thou possess over 

134 



PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY AMONG SALZBURGERS 

other places! Here is one faith, one church, one denomi- 
nation! Here shepherd and sheep are close together. 
Here body and soul are provided with material and 
spiritual medication. Here justice and righteousness 
prevail, wickedness is punished and virtue rewarded, the 
young hear only what is good and see only examples that 
are worthy of imitation. O precious flock, fear not, but 
know the time of thy visitation and consider what belongs 
to thy peace! 

' Hasten on, hasten on, 
Zion, hasten on in the light-' " 

Bolzius broke out in the following strains in one of his 
flights of joy: "O precious Ebenezer (I must exclaim!), 
how blessed art thou that thou, in spite of thy severe 
afflictions and trials, art buried so deeply in the hearts of so 
many servants and children of God, and especially in the 
heart of the venerable Samuel of our time (Dr. Samuel 
Urlsperger of Augsburg). These most highly esteemed 
fathers and benefactors rest in the heart of Jesus, and there 
likewise is thy abode. How well it is with thee, therefore, 
even though like Bethlehem thou art small and despised 
in the world!" 



There was also adversity in the colony. In fact, it was 
never wanting. For many years there was a decided pros- 
perity, in spite of adversity, but the time came when 
adversity increased to such large proportions that it well- 
nigh crushed the colony. Sickness, improper food, ma- 

135 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

larial fevers, frequent visits of the angel of death, long 
and hot summers, storms and freshets, wild animals, all 
united to prevent perfect conditions. Wars and rumors 
of wars caused them a great deal of fear and excitement. 
Inasmuch as Georgia was the bumper colony between the 
Spanish possessions to the south and the English provinces 
to the north, Ebenezer was scarcely ever without the 
rumors of wars. Booming cannon were frequently heard 
in the direction of Savannah and alarm spread throughout 
the colony immediately. The French and Indian War 
disturbed the colonists frequently and caused them much 
trouble. At times a number of their men were com- 
pelled to serve in defence of the province; others had to 
stand on guard on the outskirts of the colony. While 
these rumors never proved serious, they were always the 
cause of much worry and trouble to the peace-loving 
Salzburgers. 

It was not till after the Revolution had broken out that 
the real distress of war seized the colony. The sympathies 
of the people were on the side of the cause of American 
liberty with few exceptions. They regularly sent their 
delegates to the popular assemblies at Savannah, by which 
an independent government was established early in 1777. 
Three companies of Salzburgers were formed and sent 
forth to fight for independence. At the end of 1778 the 
British entered Georgia and early in January of the follow- 
ing year Ebenezer was occupied by British soldiers. One 
of the Salzburger pastors, Triebner by name, had become a 
tory and led the enemy into the town. The peace and 
prosperity that had been enjoyed for so many years were 

136 



PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY AMONG SALZBURGERS 

gone. The Salzburgers were driven from their homes, 
their houses and barns were destroyed, their plantations 
ruined, their mills and bridges burned or else allowed to 
fall into decay. Valuable papers were hurriedly buried, 
but they rotted in the swampy ground. For two years and 
a half the enemy and their local sympathizers and sup- 
porters had possession of the town. The trenches and 
breastworks are still seen to the northwest of the church. 
When the tide of war turned and the British had retreated, 
Ebenezer was left desolate and the stricken town never 
recovered. Its moral ruin was equal to its material deso- 
lation. The Salzburgers were scattered for miles in every 
direction and in later years erected chapels near their 
homes, as they were too far away to attend services at 
Ebenezer. There are at this time three parishes, with 
three ministers and ten congregations, besides the two in 
Savannah, that are made up largely of descendants of 
these settlers in Georgia. 

While Ebenezer was suffering from the rumors and 
ravages of war, its trials were increased by the loss of its 
pastors by death. The first one to depart this life was 
the junior pastor, Gronau, wiio died January n, 1745. 
His place was filled in course of a year by the arrival of 
Pastor Herman H. Lemcke, who proved as faithful and 
efficient as his predecessor had been, and by his earnestness 
averted the distress that otherwise would have come to the 
colony. The death of Pastor Bolzius, November 19, 1765, 
brought the intensest grief to the heartbroken flock. 
Bolzius had been every tiling to the people and had served 
them as a father, teacher, and guide in all things material 

137 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

and spiritual, and though there were two other ministers 
in the colony, yet it was well-nigh impossible to fill his 
place. Pastor Lemcke did not long outlive the senior 
pastor. His death occurred April 4, 1768. His body 
was laid at the side of Gronau and Bolzius in the Jerusalem 
cemetery. This is clearly shown by the record of his death 
in the church register still in existence and by the diaries 
of Muhlenberg. These details are here given because the 
date of his death has not heretofore been known and the 
place of his burial is wrongly supposed by the Salzburgers 
of the present generation to be in Zion cemetery. 

With the death of Pastor Lemcke the real internal 
troubles of the colony began. The adversity of the 
Revolutionary War would not have been so distressful if it 
had not been for the troubles consequent upon the death 
of this faithful servant. The sad story must be told 
briefly. When Lemcke died Rabenhorst was the only mis- 
sionary left in the large settlement. He was a good and 
pious man, loved and respected by all, fully able to take 
up the reins that his predecessors laid down. The fathers 
in Germany sent Christopher F. Triebner as first pastor, 
so Triebner understood; at least he came to be the first 
pastor and not as an assistant. He arrived late in 1768 or 
early in 1769, young, ambitious, impetuous, dictatorial, 
supreme. Rabenhorst had been a minister in the colony 
for sixteen years, and no one could understand why this 
young man should presume to override his superior in 
years and service. It became extremely unpleasant for 
the older pastor, and parties were formed, Triebner finding 
a following among the relatives of his wife, whom he mar- 

138 



PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY AMONG SALZBURGERS 

ried soon after coming into the colony. Each side laid its 
complaints before the fathers at Halle and Augsburg, and 
as a result Muhlenberg was commissioned with full power 
to visit the community and settle the difficulty. He ar- 
rived in October, 1774, just thirty-two years after his 
first visit. He spent three months in the congregation, 
hearing, seeing, questioning, warning, exhorting, pleading, 
till at last all things were seemingly reconciled. But 
reconciliation could not last, for Triebner at that time at 
least was a bad man, and a few months after Muhlenberg's 
departure acted so shamefully and disgracefully that he 
was deposed by the congregation. But he continued to 
serve them as he got the opportunity. After leaving the 
colony with the retreating British army in 1782 and making 
his home in England, he settled his accounts with the 
Halle authorities to their satisfaction. The Lutheran 
pastors at Philadelphia received letters from him as late as 
1796. Pastor Rabenhorst was heartbroken over his un- 
deserved troubles. He departed this life, as we learn from 
Muhlenberg's diaries, December 30, 1776, and was buried 
in the cemetery at Zion Church. The body of this worthy 
man lies buried in the woods and his grave, unmarked save 
by a brick wall about the lot and a sycamore tree at its side, 
is known to few. At his side lies the body of his faithful 
wife, who lived three years longer, and in her widowhood 
wrote many letters to Muhlenberg. Would it not be fitting 
in loving gratitude to bring the dust of this worthy servant 
of the Lord and that of his faithful spouse from its lonely 
place in the woods and lay it "till He come" at the side 
of his colaborers in the Jerusalem cemetery at Ebenezer? 

139 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Of the five ministers that served the Salzburgers during 
the time covered by these sketches, Triebner was the only 
one that was selfish and disloyal. The four others in good 
days and in evil days were faithful to their Master and 
loyal to their people. Let us repeat their names in the 
order of their departure: Gronau, Bolzius, Lemcke and 
Rabenhorst. Muhlenberg knew all of them personally, 
except Lemcke, and praised them very highly for their 
sterling worth and unselfish service. As a mark of ap- 
preciation the descendants of the Salzburgers have erected 
a monument in the Jerusalem God's acre to their blessed 
memory. They were good men and deserve to be re- 
membered by a grateful posterity. 

140 




2 
"Sc 



c 
W 



u 



XV 

THE SALZBURGER LANDMARK 

Alone like a sentinel stands the Jerusalem Church on 
the banks of the Savannah. The only noise that the wor- 
shiper hears while in the venerable sanctuary is the blowing 
of the steamboat whistle on the river. The railroad is eight 
miles away. Nearby, running through the solitude past the 
cemetery, is the Savannah- Augusta Road, w T hich has lost 
its prestige on account of the construction of two parallel 
roads. Here once flourished Ebenezer, the second town 
in Georgia, and later the county seat of Effingham County, 
but now no dwelling house is within two miles of the former 
site. Rows of moss-bearded cedars and ancient crape 
myrtles still mark the location of the erstwhile prominent 
town, and stand guard over the old and venerable shrine. 
Not far away to the northwest empties the sluggish 
Ebenezer into the Savannah and adds to the historic 
interest of the place. Between it and the church are seen 
the remains of the Revolutionary War, the boat landing 
where Muhlenberg arrived and departed in 1742, and the 
spring which for centuries has been the agreeable resort of 
deer and catamount, of Indian and Caucasian. 

The Jerusalem Church is said to be the only public 
edifice of colonial times that remains in the State of 

141 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Georgia. This seems strange, but all buildings in the 
early days of the province were built of boards and planks 
and disappeared long ago. A few private dwellings still 
exist among the Salzburgers and elsewhere, but these too 
are fast passing away. The public buildings in Savannah 
have given way to larger and more substantial structures 
and the location of prominent places is marked by tab- 
lets and monuments. 

April 21, 191 1, was a day of interest in the history of 
this landmark, for on this day its historic significance 
was commemorated by the unveiling of a tablet erected 
by the Georgia Society of Colonial Dames of America. 
It is a beautiful bronze tablet, made by the Tiffanys of 
New York, two feet wide and eighteen inches high. It is 
affixed to the inner, riverside wall, between the two middle 
windows. The inscription is as follows: 

t 

TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

IN MEMORY OF THE 

SALZBURG LUTHERANS 

WHO LANDED AT 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, MARCH I2TH, 1 734 

AND BUILT THIS 

JERUSALEM CHURCH 

IN 1767-1769 

ERECTED BY THE GEORGIA SOCIETY OF 

COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA 

142 



THE SALZBURGER LANDMARK 

Two facts are here commemorated, the landing of the 
Salzburgers and the building of this historic church. It 
is fitting that both events should be mentioned in this 
permanent manner, and the patriotic women that erected 
the tablet can congratulate themselves upon the suitable 
and correct wording of the inscription. 

The account of the arrival was given in a previous 
sketch and it remains for us to speak of the building of 
the church. It is well known that this is not the first 
church that was built at Ebenezer. After using their 
first frame sanctuary for nineteen years, it was enlarged 
and improved in 1760. In this remodeled form the church 
was used until the present brick building was erected. 
The pastors in the field when the work of building the new 
church began were Lemcke and Rabenhorst. The latter 
lived five miles away from Ebenezer on his plantation, and 
the burden of the work of construction must have fallen 
mainly on the shoulders of Pastor Lemcke. 

The story of the building of the church cannot be told 
in detail, for the facts and circumstances are recorded in 
letters and reports that lie hidden in the archives of Halle 
and Augsburg. When once the story can be written, it 
will prove to be one full of love, self-sacrifice, and persist- 
ency in the face of untold labors and distressful difficulties. 
The pit is still pointed out where the clay was secured and 
where with their own hands they made the bricks. Tra- 
dition says that men, women, and children labored, the 
children carrying the water and the women the bricks and 
mortar for the men. After the work was well under way, 
their leader, Pastor Lemcke, died. It no doubt put a 

H3 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

stop to their efforts for a time and greatly delayed the 
completion of the church. They deeply mourned the loss 
of their pastor, and with much grief laid his body in the 
Jerusalem God's acre, at the side of his fellow-laborers, 
Gronau and Bolzius. But with stout hearts the work 
was soon resumed, for Pastor Rabenhorst came to their 
rescue and proved himself an efficient leader. And when 
at last, after two years of hard labor, the time came for 
the laying of the last brick, he carved on it with much care 
before it was burned the triumphant date 1769, and had it 
laid in the apex of the northwest gable. Over the belfry 
the symbolic swan, dear to the heart of every Salzburger, 
was put in place. And then the church was dedicated. 
What a happy, joyful occasion it must have been, but the 
account lies hidden with other matters of great interest in 
the archives of Germany. No written or printed report 
has been seen by the writer. 

Into the belfry they put the bell given years before by 
Whitefield. In later years a larger one was secured, and 
ever since the two bells call the worshipers to the services. 
During the Revolutionary War the soldiers made a target 
of the swan on the spire; years afterwards, in a fit of im- 
provement, it was removed and replaced by a weather 
vane It is said to have found its way to the museum at 
Savannah. One of the daughter churches in building their 
house of worship in the railroad town of Rincon thought- 
fully used the swan for the finial of its spire. Out of 
appreciation for this act of historic fidelity the writer 
photographed the church so as to show the emblem and 
now gives it to our readers. 

144 




The Lutheran Church at Rincon, Georgia 



THE SALZBURGER LANDMARK 

It was a wonderful structure the faithful Salzburgers 
had suceeded in erecting in their settlement to the glory 
of their heavenly Father, whom to serve in purity and truth 
they had left home and native country. Its exterior 
measurements are fifty by seventy feet, built high enough 
for two tiers of windows, with the intention no doubt of 
arranging a gallery on three sides of the interior. How- 
ever, there is a gallery only across the short side opposite 
the pulpit. A tile floor was laid over the whole building. 
The walls are twenty inches thick. 

That it is still standing is a marvel. It has weathered 
the storms of almost a century and a half and withstood 
the ravages of three wars, in two of which it was used and 
abused for hospital and stable purposes. Stranger still 
that time and the change of conditions have not stilled 
the voice of the messenger in this house of prayer nor 
altered the faith of the parents and children that for five 
succeeding generations have worshiped within its walls. 
Here the great patriarch, Muhlenberg, preached and 
communed; here his son, Colonel Peter Muhlenberg, came 
in 1776 as a devout and interested visitor while his Vir- 
ginia regiment was at Savannah; here the patriarch's wife 
and little daughter, Mary Salome, the ancestress of a long 
line of Lutheran preachers, worshiped while on their visit 
to Ebenezer; here, at the suggestion of Muhlenberg, 
Christian Streit, a Lutheran chaplain in the Revolution, 
worshiped, and, perhaps, preached in 1778; here also 
John Adam Treutlen served as deacon and imbibed the 
doctrine that gave him a character that fitted him to 
become the first governor of Georgia, and then in the days 

145 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

of his banishment and final martyrdom strengthened him 
for the torture he had to bear unto death. This landmark 
is a monument of the "lofty piety and Christian heroism 
of those who in the maintenance of their religious principles 
suffered the 'loss of all things' and have furnished an ex- 
ample of patient endurance under every form of persecu- 
tion and of ardent zeal in the cause of Christ." The story 
of their fidelity to the true faith forms "one of the brightest 
pages in the history of the Church since the days of the 
Apostles." 

The assertion can be safely made that if it had not been 
for this permanent church home, the Salzburgers and their 
descendants would have been scattered to the four winds 
and lost to the Lutheran Church. But they heeded the 
words spoken of old by the prophet Jeremiah, "Remem- 
ber the Lord afar off and let Jerusalem come into your 
. mind." The Church formed a center that never lost its 
magnetic power, and though for many years the effort was 
made to preserve that power by means of the gospel 
preached in the German language, yet it was entrusted to a 
new tongue just as soon as the old fathers felt that it could 
safely be transmitted to a new language. That time came 
far too slowly in the estimation of the present generation, 
but a kind Providence saved the history of these Lutheran 
exiles and their descendants for the Church which they 
loved and for which they suffered far more than we are 
willing to suffer at the present time. 

During the year 19 13 the large memorial church at 
Springfield, Georgia, is to be dedicated. Its corner stone 
bears the following inscription: 

146 



THE SALZBURGER LANDMARK 

HOLY TRINITY 
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 

ERECTED 1909 

IN MEMORY OE THE SALZBURGERS 

WHO LANDED AT EBENEZER 1 734 

It is a commodious brick building, about the same size 
as the Mother Church, and makes an appropriate monu- 
ment. Of the ten Salzburger churches, it is the one that 
is nearest the original settlement at Old Ebenezer, and it 
is located in the most important town occupied by Salz- 
burger churches outside of Savannah. It is another 
proof of the vitality of the love and fidelity of the children 
whose fathers, driven from home, found a refuge and an 
asylum in the New World and left their posterity an undy- 
ing inheritance of faith. 

147 



XVI 

THE PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR 
THE MINISTRY 

The first Lutheran minister ordained in America was 
Justus Falckner, a German; the first Lutheran minister 
born in America was John Abraham Lidenius, a Swede; 
the first Lutheran minister born, reared and ordained in 
America was Jacob van Buskirck, a descendant of the 
Dutch settlers in upper New Jersey. The last is the 
first one that comes within the range of the subject of this 
sketch. It is true that Lidenius was born in America, but 
while he was yet a boy his father returned to Sweden and 
there educated his children. After his ordination the 
son came back to the home of his mother and labored 
among the Swedes on the Delaware as their pastor until 
his death, finding a last resting place in Pennsylvania. 

In this sketch we are interested in American students 
educated by the pioneers, so we must begin with Van 
Buskirck. He was born in 1739 and ordained at New 
Hanover in the fall of 1763. The way he received his 
course of instruction illustrates fairly well how the early 
pioneers labored to educate candidates for the ministry 
in their days of limitations and difficulties. First he spent 
four years under the private care of his pastor, Rev. J. A. 
Weygandt, in New York, for in those days many a par- 

148 




Major General Peter Muhlenberg 
The Hon. Frederick Muhlenberg 

Dr. Henry Muhlenberg 

The Three Distinguished Brothers who as Boys went to Halle 



PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR THE MINISTRY 

sonage was made a schoolhouse. Pastor Weygandt pre- 
pared him for Princeton College, and after spending some 
time there he was received into the home of Muhlenberg 
at the Trappe, for the purpose of studying theology. He 
practically became a member of Muhlenberg's household. 
He studied under his patron and assisted him in his work 
of teaching and preaching. The people of New Hanover 
desired to have him for their regular pastor, and he was 
therefore ordained for them in their church by Muhlen- 
berg and his colleagues. The Swedish Provost, Dr. 
Wrangel, preached the sermon in the ordination service. 
Van Buskirck labored faithfully in Eastern Pennsylvania 
till his death in 1800, filling important pastorates like 
Macungie and Allentown. 



The real difficulties of education in provincial times 
began to present themselves to Muhlenberg when his own 
boys reached the age when they needed something more 
in the way of learning than could be obtained in the 
parochial schools of Philadelphia. At this time the oldest 
of the boys was nearly seventeen; the second past thirteen, 
and the youngest not yet ten. What to do was a problem 
in the household of the father, especially since he saw in his 
boys gifts of mind and heart that made him feel that they 
could render the Master acceptable service in the ministry. 
It was his prayer that the Lord might use all three of 
them and open the way for their preparation. Finally he 
reached the conclusion that he would send them to the 
University of Halle for their classical and theological train- 

149 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

ing. We can easily imagine that it was very hard for 
their American mother to give her consent to a plan so 
severe as this, as it demanded a separation for at least six 
years. No doubt she contended that the Academy of 
Philadelphia might be made to serve the purpose. But in 
the mind of the serious father there were two considera- 
tions that he felt outweighed all other arguments; namely, 
the need of the German language on the part of all Lutheran 
ministers, and also the need of Lutheran theology. Both 
of these would be obtained in Germany but lost at the 
local academy. It was true then, as it is now, if we want 
Lutheran ministers, our sons must be sent to Lutheran 
schools. 

April 27, 1763, was the sad day the three boys left the 
parental roof, and the mother's tears flowed profusely, and 
no doubt the father's too, for it was a tremendous under- 
taking, more so then than it would be at the present 
time. But the father commended the care of the boys 
to a friend who had the same journey to make, and urged 
the oldest boy Peter to take good care of his younger 
brothers. The second son Frederick took young Henry 
by the hand and off they went into days and weeks and 
years all dark to them. 

When they reached Germany the two older boys were 
sent direct to the school, and the friend and guide started 
off for a visit to the father's home at Eimbeck with little 
Henry. On the way the heartless fellow deserted the boy 
and left him to trudge along alone to find the way the best 
he could. The brave boy did not give up, but continued 
his journey on foot, and when he came near to Eimbeck, 

150 



PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR THE MINISTRY 

tired and footsore, feeling that he must soon give up in 
despair, a sturdy villager took the little stranger on his 
shoulders and carried him the rest of the way to his relatives, 
whiling away the time and diverting the wayworn boy's 
mind from his weariness by relating interesting stories. 

Soon afterwards he was reunited with his brothers at 
Halle, and the work of studying began in earnest. For 
awhile all went well, but Peter soon became restless under 
the strict discipline and yearned for freedom. He had a 
strong fondness for hunting and fishing, that he inherited 
from his grandfather Weiser. His love for books was not 
as great as it should have been, and in this he differed from 
the other two boys. He was, therefore, apprenticed to a 
druggist for a term of six years, but, becoming disgusted 
with his confinement and limited opportunities for satis- 
fying his inborn proclivities for outdoor life, he ran away 
and enlisted with a company of German soldiers, called 
dragoons, passing through the town for the purpose of 
securing recruits. He was made secretary of the regiment, 
which shows how well he fitted in his new environment, but 
his acts caused much grief at home when the news reached 
Philadelphia. Through the kindness of a British colonel, 
whom the father had met in America, Peter's release was 
secured from the German dragoons and he was brought 
to his home. Three years had passed since he left, and 
oh! how the hearts of mother and father leaped for joy 
when they saw their wayward boy once more. They 
soon learned that there was no use of worrying over this 
son Peter; it was only necessary to give him a chance to 
work out his own future. 

151 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Now let us return in haste to the two brothers left at 
Halle, faithfully pursuing their studies. After they 
had been at school a short time, no doubt before their 
guardian brother left them, they found another American 
student. This greatly surprised them. He had left his 
American home for the same purpose they had, and they 
discovered that their fathers were intimate friends. To 
what extent their common land of birth formed a bond of 
union and friendship among them we cannot say, for the 
other student had been there for ten years; still we love 
to think that they frequently met and encouraged each 
other, and formed a friendly and sympathetic trio of 
American students. The name of the other student was 
Gotthilf Israel Bolzius, the son of the first pastor at 
Ebenezer, who was earnestly endeavoring to have his son 
educated for the holy ministry in spite of all difficulties. 
It demanded of father and mother that they be separated 
from their son for life. When the father was nearing his 
end in 1765 it rejoiced his heart to learn that his son had 
passed his trial examination for ordination. When we 
meet him for the last time in print, after his father's death, 
he is assistant pastor of one of the Lutheran churches near 
the university. We do not know how long he lived, but it 
is certain that he never returned to his native land. 

The interests of this trio of young American students 
met once more just before the Muhlenbergs finished their 
six years' course. Dr. Francke, the life and spirit of the 
Halle institutions, died in September, 1769, and a memorial 
volume of great beauty was issued soon after his death, 
giving a sketch of his life and character, and containing 

152 



PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR THE MINISTRY 

many tributes of esteem, written mostly in poetic form by 
professors, students, relatives, and friends. Among these 
tributes is one over the joint name of Frederick and Henry 
Muhlenberg, and another by young Pastor Bolzius. Both 
are in the form of poetry and express the sincere grati- 
tude and deep appreciation of the writers. The tribute 
written by the Muhienbergs consists of fourteen stanzas 
of four lines each in perfect rhyme and meter. The 
appropriate thought is expressed that they also mourn who 
have come from distant shores to see the noble friend, as 
though they had left the fruitful banks of the Delaware, 
that they should taste more deeply the bitter sorrow of 
his departure than they could were they in Philadelphia. 
The circumstances made young Bolzius feel the death 
of Dr. Francke very heavily. In his tribute of esteem he 
sets forth that, born on the banks of the Savannah in 
Georgia he was made an orphan by the death of his father, 
but the departed took his father's place. Now, he con- 
tinues, left an orphan a second time, there is none to fill 
the vacant place. In touching terms he deplores his loss 
and gives expression to the highest regard for the sterling 
qualities of the departed teacher and friend, and feelingly 
commends the weeping widow to the grace of God. 

When Peter Muhlenberg reached his home in Phila- 
delphia, a new trio of American students was formed. 
First there was Peter himself, who at last had become 
serious and was applying himself with commendable zeal 
to the study of theology. The second was Christian 
Streit, of Swiss extraction and a child of one of the Luth- 

153 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

eran congregations in New Jersey. He took a classical 
course at the Academy of Philadelphia and studied the- 
ology privately at the same time. The third was Daniel 
Kuhn, the son of a prominent Lutheran physician of 
Lancaster. These three sons of earnest pioneers studied 
theology under the supervision of Muhlenberg and in the 
home of Dr. Wrangel, the Swedish Provost. 

Of these three students Daniel Kuhn was never ordained. 
He was repeatedly licensed to preach and assisted in 
Philadelphia and New York. He followed his teacher to 
Sweden in 1770 or 177 1, and upon his return again assisted 
in various ways, and in 1774 he was recommended by the 
church council of the Wicaco church to the authorities in 
Sweden for ordination, but his health seems to have 
failed, and in 1779 the Patriarch refers to him as having 
departed this life. 

Christian Streit began to preach in 1768, and was 
ordained October 25, 1770. His activity and usefulness 
in Church and State demand a separate sketch of his life 
in these pages. 

Peter Muhlenberg, after preaching for eight years, served 
in the American army throughout the Revolution, and 
rose to the rank of Major General. He is one of the pillars 
in the Temple of American Liberty and therefore a sepa- 
rate sketch will be devoted to the career of this loyal 
Lutheran preacher and patriot. 



Frederick and Henry Muhlenberg returned from Halle 
after their course was completed. September 22, 1770, is 

154 



PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR THE MINISTRY 

the happy day of their arrival. They were ordained a 
month later in a class of four. Frederick at once took up 
active work in the ministry and before long was pastor in 
New York City. His ability to preach in German and 
English was of great value to him. Here he planned in 
1774 to organize the second Synod, but the war broke out, 
the British entered New York, and the young American 
patriot had to flee for his life. He found safety with his 
father in Philadelphia and later at the Trappe. Here he 
assisted his father at New Hanover and other inland 
points until 1778 or 1779, when the voice of the peo- 
ple called loudly for his assistance in the public forum. 
First he was elected to the Continental Congress, and 
then to the State Assembly, over which he presided for 
two terms. In 1783 his father had hopes of seeing him 
return to the pulpit and accept a call to the Ebenezer 
charge in Georgia, but, alas! the young man, fired by 
the principles of the Declaration of Independence, could 
not resist the promptings of patriotism and withdraw 
from his political career. Though he never returned to 
the pulpit, he faithfully retained his place in the pew 
and frequently was sent by his congregation as a lay 
delegate to the meetings of Synod. He was elected to 
positions of honor and trust and was President of the 
State Convention that ratified the new Federal Consti- 
tution in 1787, and when it went into effect two years 
later served as a member of the House of Representa- 
tives for three or four terms. He was Speaker of the First 
and the Third Congress. Thus it will be noticed that in 
this honorable body he held the position later filled by such 

155 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

well known statesmen as Reed, Cannon and Clark. It is 
a matter of record that he presided with much dignity and 
marked ability, and always cast a deciding vote with 
supremely good judgment. The Lutheran Church can be 
justly proud of the important part her loyal sons played 
in the great and lasting work of establishing the American 
Union. 

Henry Muhlenberg began his active career in the 
ministry in Philadelphia, and he was at his post when the 
British entered the city in 1777. He made his escape with 
the greatest difficulty. The Muhlenbergs were marked 
men on account of their decided sympathy for the cause 
of liberty, and whenever the British drew near they had 
to flee for life. Henry disguised himself as an Indian, and 
robed in a blanket with his gun on his shoulder, though 
almost betrayed by a tory, he finally found his way to his 
father's home at the Trappe. During his enforced idle- 
ness he devoted himself to the study of nature, and when 
his brother Frederick entered the political arena he assisted 
his father, and in 1 780 was called to the church in Lancaster, 
where he labored in the ministry to the time of his death 
in 181 5. His was a most useful and earnest life, and he 
became distinguished in three departments of professional 
activity, in the ministry, in education and in science. 
In recognition of his profound learning and his distin- 
guished services in the ministry he early received the 
title of Doctor of Divinity. In educational circles he took 
a prominent part, and in 1787 was elected the first Presi- 
dent of Franklin College, Lancaster. In science he ranked 
high as a botanist, and has been placed by the side of 

156 



PIONEERS EDUCATING THEIR SONS FOR THE MINISTRY 

such world-renowned men as Linnaeus and Von Humboldt. 
He discovered, described and classified over one hundred 
species of plants. He found many new varieties of 
willows, among them the American bay willow and the 
heart-leaved willow. The yellow chestnut oak bears his 
name in the Latin scientific catalogue. 

These were among the first of our American Lutheran 
students and they acquitted themselves nobly. There 
are others, but these must suffice as examples of earnest- 
ness and fidelity among the pioneers and their children. 
They did their part in then* day and generation; let us do 
ours in a time far more favorable and advantageous. 

157 



XVII 

THE PIONEERS HELPING TO LAY THE FOUN- 
DATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

Christian Streit 

It is well known that the Lutheran pioneers and their 
children were staunch supporters of the cause of American 
independence. They gave material aid in money and 
service toward the rearing of the Temple of Liberty. 
They spared themselves in nothing, but willingly contrib- 
uted of their wealth, shouldered their guns, unsheathed 
the sword, endured the hardships of imprisonment, suffered 
the plundering devastations and depredations of the tories, 
poured out their lifeblood on battlefield and in hospital, 
and yielded to martyrdom that the temple might be 
reared and abide. 

"No nation saved, no wrong redressed 
Without some flow of willing blood." 

Should any one of my readers have allowed himself 
to form the wrong impression that the Lutheran Church is 
a foreign church, let him erase it from his mind forever. 
The Lutheran Church is a charter member of the American 
Republic by right of creation. Her members helped to 
make the American Union. Her children were here in 
the field, liberty-loving in spirit and dauntless in courage, 

158 




Christian Streit 



FOUNDATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

and vigorously threw their sympathy and support on the 
side of the American colonies. Her farmers deserted their 
farms to take up arms, her ministers left their pulpits 
and served as chaplains, or as soldiers and officers; her 
deacons and magistrates rushed to the legislative halls, as 
they were called by the people, and aroused the colonists 
to action to defend their liberties and to satisfy their in- 
born love of freedom and justice. 

Captains gathered companies in Lutheran congrega- 
tions and led them to the front; a father and his son in 
Virginia, members of the Old Hebron Church, served 
throughout the war and at its close the son became a 
Lutheran minister; the German regiment of the Valley of 
Virginia, often praised in history, was mainly formed 
among Lutherans; the Salzburgers organized three com- 
panies for active service; the company of German Fusiliers 
of Charleston consisted of members of the German 
Lutheran congregation, and the pastor of the church had 
three sons in its ranks. Our Lutheran soldiers endured 
the great hardships and privations of the war with their 
fellows, " frequently subsisting," as one of them relates, 
"two or three days without their rations, and then receiv- 
ing only a meager allowance of corn meal, which they would 
hastily mix with a little water, and, after covering it with 
oak leaves, lay it on a bed of warm coals until it w T as baked, 
and then partake of this homely meal with the greatest of 
zest." 

We know of one Lutheran minister that served as chap- 
lain in the army and no doubt there were others; a Lu- 
theran colonel soon became a Brigadier General, and then 

159 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

rose to the rank of Major General; a Lutheran governor 
sacrificed his property and life on the altar of patriotism 
in behalf of American liberty. They were men who by 
their means, prayers, skill, valor, patience, bravery, endur- 
ance, courage, and sufferings not only helped to lay the 
foundation stones, but after peace returned by their wis- 
dom and counsel aided in the rearing of the glorious temple 
upon the foundation built by their zeal and patriotism. 

In this sketch let us tell the story of the chaplain in the 
army of the Revolution. He led his regiment in prayer 
to the throne of grace to plead for the establishment of the 
Temple of Liberty. 

Among the Lutherans of New Jersey, twenty-five to 
thirty miles east of Phillipsburg and Easton, there was a 
sturdy pioneer by the name of John Leonhard Streit. He 
was an officer in one of the German congregations on 
the Raritan, earnest, faithful, and loyal. He loved his 
church so deeply that in the year 1753 he made a journey 
of seventy miles to bring the Patriarch Muhlenberg to 
his home church for two weeks. His father is said to have 
come from Switzerland. Muhlenberg speaks very highly 
of him and of the hospitality of his home. Here there was 
a little son. He had good parents and excellent grand- 
parents. They gave him the name of Christian, after 
his grandfather and because they hoped that some day 
he might be called to be a minister of Christ. His parents 
and grandparents watched over him very carefully, and 
when he was old enough they sent him to Philadelphia 
to be educated at the Academy and College of Philadel- 
phia, which afterwards became the University of Penn- 

160 



FOUNDATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

sylvania. He was graduated with distinction in 1768, 
and three years later received his master's degree. While 
pursuing his classical course he was often in the home of 
Pastor Muhlenberg, and under him and Dr. Wrangel 
studied theology. Peter Muhlenberg was here at the same 
time studying for the ministry, and likewise Daniel Kuhn. 
While they studied they also preached under the direction 
of their two teachers in eastern Pennsylvania, in New 
Jersey, and among the Swedes, who at this time were 
desirous of having English preaching. Everybody liked 
these three young men and loved to hear them preach. 
They were men with four arms, as Dr. Mann would say, 
because they could preach in two languages. They were 
different in their ways and in their disposition. Peter 
was fiery and impetuous; Christian, quiet and gentle; 
Daniel, reserved and unassuming. 

Upon finishing his studies Christian Streit was licensed 
and sent to Easton, where he served a congregation for 
almost ten years. When the Revolution broke out, no 
doubt at the solicitation of his friend Peter, Pastor Streit 
was appointed chaplain of the Eighth Virginia Regiment. 
This appointment was altogether to the liking of the 
young American pastor, as his heart was warmed by the 
fires of freedom. 

Complete records of Streit's services in the army as 
chaplain have not been found by the writer. Personal 
inquiry at the War Department, Washington, received the 
following official reply: "The records show that Christian 
Streit served as chaplain of the Eighth Regiment, com- 
manded by Colonel Abraham Bowman, Revolutionary 

161 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

War. He was appointed August i, 1776, and his name 
is last borne on a muster roll for July 1777, dated Au- 
gust 5, 1777, but neither the place of his birth, the names 
of his parents nor the date and manner of the termina- 
tion of his service are shown." 

While we cannot follow him in his movements in the 
army, it is evident that when Washington and his men 
retired to Valley Forge, Pastor Streit was urged to go to 
Charleston. It is not known to the writer whether he was 
requested to go as chaplain or whether the congregation at 
Charleston called him. This much however is known, 
that at this time the unique Southern city was living in 
full enjoyment of peace, and the German congregation 
there desired English preaching in addition to the regular 
German services. Pastor Streit was there when later on 
the whole Virginia line reached Charleston in defence of 
the city, and he evidently became chaplain of the Ninth 
Virginia Regiment, as Muhlenberg in a letter to Treutlen 
says that he was chaplain of this regiment. 

While in Charleston acting perhaps in the double 
capacity of English pastor and army chaplain, he was 
taken prisoner by the British with the whole Virginia line 
and all the American soldiers that were in the city. He 
had frequently been warned of his danger and advised to 
flee before the British would come, but he chose rather to 
stay at his post and suffer imprisonment with his fellows 
in the cause. 

When he was set free by exchange of prisoners, he took 
his wife and child, and before the heat of the summer of 
1782 became too intense, he made his way to the home of 

162 



FOUNDATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

the patriarch who had moved from Philadelphia to the 
Trappe. At Muhlenberg's suggestion he became pastor 
of the congregation at New Hanover. Here in the home 
of Muhlenberg's daughter, Mrs. Swaine, Pastor Streit 
found a refuge and loving care for his sick wife and child. 
To his great sorrow his child died in a few weeks, and the 
mother followed August 20th. He was almost heart- 
broken in his grief, but under Muhlenberg's earnest 
entreaty he rallied and acceptably served the large parish 
for three years, when he followed a call to Winchester, in 
the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Here he was allowed 
to labor with much success and joy for twenty-seven years, 
to the end of his days. Fifty years after his death the 
fragrance of that gentle life was still in the air. 

"You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will, 
But the scent of the roses will hang 'round it still." 

When he came to Winchester he found there the bare 
w r ails of a large stone church. It stood on an acre lot 
donated to the German Lutherans by Lord Fairfax in 1753. 
The work of erecting a building for worship was delayed 
for many years by the breaking out of the French and 
Indian War. When the war was over the members set to 
work to erect a substantial limestone edifice. They made 
the foundation walls three and a half feet thick, and into 
the corner stone, which was laid April 16, 1764, they put 
a Latin document setting forth their Lutheran faith and 
giving the names of their members, together with the names 
of their officers and of their rulers in Virginia and in 
England. The walls were twenty-nine inches thick and 

163 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

outlined a building forty-two feet wide and fifty-two feet 
long, with a height of twenty-three feet. The roof was 
put in place before the Revolution broke out in 1775. All 
work was discontinued during the war, and the building 
was often used for barracks. Not only did their church 
remain unfinished, but for most of the time they had no 
pastor. In fact, Christian Streit, who came to them 
thirty-two years after Lord Fairfax gave them the lot, 
was their first regular pastor. 

The work of completing the church was begun in earnest 
when Pastor Streit arrived full of vigor and energy. 
Being something of a mechanical genius himself, he led 
the way in the making of doors and windows. Still it was 
a long time before the building was ready for the holding 
of public services. He preached in a log church near by 
and here he held services for four years, until at last in 
1789 the place of worship could be used, and in 1793, al- 
most thirty years after the laying of the corner stone, the 
church was dedicated. The joy of the faithful pastor 
knew no bounds when he was able to gather his people 
about him in the finished sanctuary. 

In addition to the congregation at Winchester he served 
many other churches. Some were far away, but he labored 
on cheerfully, traveling very extensively that he might 
meet his many appointments. He was known far and 
near, and he was often called to other fields on account of 
his ability to preach in English. The Swedish congrega- 
tions at Wilmington and Swedesboro endeavored to secure 
his services, but he declined to leave his flocks shepherd- 
less. He took much interest in the young people, preach- 

164 



FOUNDATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

ing in English for them and starting schools that they might 
have the opportunity of gaining an education. For many 
years he was a teacher and part owner of a school for girls. 
He also instructed candidates for the ministry, and among 
his students were William Carpenter and Paul Henkel. 
As pastor, preacher, and teacher he endeavored to be an 
active and faithful servant of his Master. He was not 
blessed with robust health, yet he performed his vast 
labors and bore the burdens of his extensive field with evi- 
dent joy and pleasure. Throughout all these years his 
wife, whom he led to the altar after coming to Winchester, 
stood at his side and faithfully shared his labors, loyally 
relieving him of the cares of his large family. When he 
laid down his pen and closed his eyes she rejoiced to be 
able by her unwearying industry and wise management 
to help her children grow to maturity. She died in 1836. 
When Pastor Streit departed this life his congregation, in 
loving gratitude, laid away his body in front of the pulpit 
from which his voice had sounded forth for so many 
years. 

In 1842 a new church was built, for the town of Win- 
chester had grown up some distance away from the old 
site. The members looked upon the venerable church as 
a monument of ancestral fidelity and preserved it as a 
sanctuary in the cemetery, but in the night of September 
27, 1854, it was destroyed by fire and only the east wall 
remained as a landmark. Pastor Streit's body was moved 
a short distance from its place of burial and a marble 
monument reared over the new grave. In the picture our 
readers can see the ivy-mantled wall of the old shrine and 

165 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

the stately, artistic momiment dedicated to the memory of 
the faithful pastor. Appropriate inscriptions are engraved 
on all four sides. They read as follows: 

CHRISTIAN STREIT 

BORN IN NEW JERSEY 

JUNE 7, 1749 

ORDAINED TO THE GOSPEL 

MINISTRY, 1769 

DIED AT WINCHESTER, VA., 

MARCH IO, l8l 2 

FIRST MINISTER OF THE 

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 

CHURCH BORN IN AMERICA 

PASTOR AT WINCHESTER 

JULY 19, 1785, 

TO MARCH IO, 1 8l 2 

I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD 

FIGHT; I HAVE FINISHED 

MY COURSE; I HAVE KEPT 

THE FAITH 

The reader will remember that since this inscription 
was engraved it has been found that the first Lutheran 
minister born in America was not Christian Streit, but 
John Abraham Lidenius, and the first one born, educated 
and ordained in America was Jacob van Buskirck. Chris- 
tian Streit and Peter Muhlenberg share the honor of 
holding third place. It is remarkable that of these four 
distinguished men, three were born in the State of New 
Jersey, and each one of the four in his ancestry represents 

166 



FOUNDATION STONES OF THE TEMPLE OF LIBERTY 

a different nationality. The exact date of Pastor Streit's 
ordination is October 25, 1770. 

The fact that Christian Streit is not the first native 
American Lutheran minister does not detract from his 
noble character as a faithful servant of the Lord, nor 
diminish our reason for admiring him. He was tender, 
talented, patient, peaceful, prudent, unwearying; and 

"His life was gentle, and the elements 
So mixed in him, that nature might stand up 
And say to all the world, 'This was a man.'" 

The famous home missionary, Paul Henkel, who knew 
him personally, says of him in his autobiography, "He 
was a very learned man, a good preacher, a useful and 
willing worker in Church and Synod, a man who knew 
not his own gifts and wisdom, of whom the world was not 
worthy." We must remember him for the benign influ- 
ence of his work as a teacher, the fidelity of his ministry 
as a pastor, the eloquence of his virtuous life as a preacher, 
and the radiant splendor of his service as an American 
patriot and as a Christian soldier in the army of the Lord. 
He loved music and melody was in his heart and life; the 
harmony of peace made all his words and actions sweetly 
melodious. 

167 



XVIII 

PETER MUHLENBERG 

The Lutheran Church has always pointed with pride 
to the war record of her son, General Muhlenberg. He has 
done more to establish her claim to charter membership in 
the American Union than any other man. That another 
denomination has endeavored to claim him as a member 
is not strange, when we consider the valuable services he 
rendered his country, but it rests on an insufficient basis. 
In order that he might serve acceptably as pastor in a 
strictly English province, he secured episcopal ordination 
in England. The effect of this ordination was that he 
was regarded, according to the laws of the province of 
Virginia, as a minister authorized to perform the act of 
marriage legally and to collect tithes for his support. It is 
true, also, that this ordination made his services acceptable 
to the members of the Church of England, as well as to the 
German Lutherans whom he was called to serve. That 
this act did not change his faith or his former Church 
relationship is proved by this, that the Ministerium of 
Pennsylvania commissioned him to perform certain 
duties after this ordination, and also by this, that after he 
relinquished the ministry he became an active layman in 
the German Lutheran congregation of Philadelphia, and 
died in active connection with the same. 

1 68 



PETER MUHLENBERG 

When the call came to this young American pastor and 
patriot to take up arms in defence of his country he was 
the Lutheran minister at Woodstock, Virginia. He began 
his labors here in 1772. Woodstock was the center of his 
new parish, and he preached at several places in the Valley 
of Virginia. The people whom he served were sturdy 
Germans that had come from Pennsylvania. To show how 
truly German and Lutheran they were, we give a picture 
of the communion vessels with the altar cloth that Muhlen- 
berg found in use in the church at Woodstock. You will 
notice with interest the painstaking lettering on the 
cloth. The cup has a similar inscription engraved over 
the whole exterior surface, giving the clear Lutheran doc- 
trine. All inscriptions are German in Roman letters. 
The date given on all pieces is 1767. These vessels at 
present are the property of the Lutheran congregation at 
Woodstock and are wisely and reverently kept in the vault 
of one of the town banks. 

We shall not repeat at length the story of Pastor Muhlen- 
berg's patriotic action in giving up the pulpit for the battle- 
field. The story has often been told. Yet in outline let 
us follow his brave career that we may see what Lutheran 
patriotism moves a man to do for his country. 

When he settled in Virginia he soon became acquainted 
with the young surveyor, planter, and statesman, George 
Washington, who was now forty years of age. They were 
much alike in build and inclination. Each one was stately 
in person, over six feet tall, calm and dignified in deport- 
ment, aggressive in spirit, and impressively noble in 
bearing. Both were fond of hunting, fishing, and riding. 

169 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

They were intimate friends for the rest of their days, or 
at least till late in life, when a difference of political views 
separated them somewhat. Here he also met Richard 
Henry Lee and Patrick Henry. He heard Patrick Henry's 
great speeches, and was one of his ardent sympathizers 
and supporters. He admired his patriotic words and 
especially the well known peroration, "Is life so dear, or 
peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and 
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what 
course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or 
give me death !" 

In December, 1775, the House of Delegates of Virginia 
appointed Muhlenberg colonel of the Eighth Virginia 
Regiment. His training with the dragoons in Germany 
had fitted him for this position and he accepted the ap- 
pointment. In the middle of January of the memorable 
year of 1776, either on the fourteenth or the twenty-first 
day of the month, he bade farewell to pulpit and flock and 
entered the arena of military activity. The historian, 
George Bancroft, describes the act in the following words: 
"The command of another regiment was given to the 
Lutheran minister, Peter Muhlenberg, who left the pulpit 
to form out of his several congregations one of the most 
perfect battalions in the army." 

The poet, Thomas Buchanan Read, tells the story of 
this heroic deed in these beautiful lines: 

Within its shade of elm and oak 

The Church of Berkeley Manor stood; 
There Sunday found the rural folk, 

And some esteemed of gentle blood. 

170 



PETER MUHLENBERG 

In vain their feet with loitering tread 

Passed 'mid the graves where rank is naught: 
All could not read the lesson taught 

In that republic of the dead. 

How sweet the hour of Sabbath talk, 
The vale with peace and sunshine full, 

Where all the happy people walk, 

Decked in their homespun flax and wool! 

Where youth's gay hats with blossoms bloom 
And every maid, with simple art, 
Wears on her breast, like her own heart, 

A bud whose depths are all perfume; 

While every garment's gentle stir 

Is breathing rose and lavender. 

The pastor rose: the prayer was strong; 
The psalm was warrior David's song: 
The text, a few short words of might — 
"The Lord of hosts shall arm the right." 
He spoke of wrongs too long endured, 
Of sacred rights to be secured; 
Then from his patriot tongue of flame 
The startling words of Freedom came. 

The stirring sentences he spake 
Compelled the heart to glow and quake, 
And, rising on his theme's broad wing, 

And grasping in his nervous hand 

The imaginary battle-brand, 
In face of death he dared to fling 
Defiance to a tyrant king. 

Even as he spoke, his frame, renewed 
In eloquence of attitude, 
Rose, as it seemed, a shoulder higher, 
Then swept his kindling glance of fire 
From startled pew to breathless choir, 

171 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

When suddenly his mantle wide 
His hands impatient flung aside, 
And, lo! he met their wondering eyes 
Complete in all a warrior's guise. 

A moment there was awful pause, — 

When Berkeley cried, " Cease, traitor! cease! 

God's temple is the house of peace!" 
The other shouted, "Nay, not so, 
When God is with our righteous cause: 

His holiest places then are ours, 

His temples are our forts and towers 
That frown upon the tyrant foe: 
In this the dawn of Freedom's day 
There is a time to fight and pray!" 

And now before the open door — 

The warrior priest had ordered so — 
The enlisting trumpet's sudden roar 
Rang through the chapel, o'er and o'er, 

Its long reverberating blow, 
So loud and clear, it seemed the ear 
Of dusty death must wake and hear. 
And there the startling drum and fife 
Fired the living with fiercer life; 
While overhead with wild increase, 
Forgetting its ancient toll of peace, 

The great bell swung as ne'er before: 
It seemed as it would never cease, 
And every word its ardor flung 
From off its jubilant iron tongue 

Was, "War! War! War!" 

"Who dares" — this was the patriot's cry, 
As striding from the desk he came — 
"Come out with me in Freedom's name, 
For her to live, for her to die?" 
A hundred hands flung up reply, 
A hundred voices answered "I!" 

172 



PETER MUHLENBERG 

Colonel Muhlenberg, after collecting the enlisted sol- 
diers, proceeded at once to Suffolk in southeast Virginia 
to train and equip the men under his command. In May 
he received orders to hasten to Lee's assistance at Charles- 
ton. The long journey was made in less than a month. 
We shall let Bancroft describe his journey and arrival. 
He says, "In the following night (June 23d-24th) Muhlen- 
berg's regiment arrived. On receiving Lee's orders they 
had instantly set off from Virginia and marched to Charles- 
ton, without tents, continually exposed to the weather. 
The companies were composed of Muhlenberg's old Ger- 
man parishioners; and of all the Virginia regiments this 
was the most complete, the best armed, best clothed and 
best equipped for immediate service." 

His arrival greatly encouraged Lee's besieged army. He 
was given an important place in the plans of that great 
victory, for he was sent to reinforce the command sta- 
tioned in the east end of Sullivan's Island. The fighting, 
however, was done at Fort Moultrie, and his work was that 
of defence in case of an attack. He performed his task 
nobly, winning the approbation of General Lee, who said 
of his troops: "It happened at this time, though not com- 
plete to a man (for no regiment is ever complete to a 
man), that Muhlenberg's regiment was not only the most 
complete of the province, but, I believe, of the whole 
continent. It was not only the most complete in 
numbers, but the best armed, clothed and equipped 
for immediate service. His soldiers were alert, zealous 
and spirited." 

After the victory of Charleston, General Lee ordered 

173 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Muhlenberg's troops, with others, to Georgia and Florida. 
It was in the midst of the hot and sultry summer and the 
soldiers suffered intensely in the malarial districts of east- 
ern Georgia. While here the news first reached the army 
of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Poles 
were raised and bonfires built to celebrate the event. 
Here Colonel Muhlenberg met the intimate friend of 
his father, John Adam Treutlen, and in all likelihood 
with him visited Pastor Rabenhorst and the Ebenezer 
Church. 

In September General Lee received orders to come north. 
His campaign to Florida was therefore abandoned, and 
he hastened away. Later on Muhlenberg followed with 
his soldiers, and in December they reached Virginia again, 
where they spent the winter recuperating. In recogni- 
tion of his valuable and efficient services, Colonel Muhlen- 
berg, February 21, 1777, was elevated to the rank of 
Brigadier General and put in command of the Virginia 
line. He was soon ordered to join the main army under 
Washington, which was then in northern New Jersey. 
Before he arrived Washington had won a series of brilliant 
victories at Trenton and Princeton, and had driven the 
British back into New York. From here they quietly 
sailed to the Chesapeake and journeyed through upper 
Delaware into Philadelphia, bringing about, in the fall of 
the year, engagements at Brandywine and Germantown. 
At both of these battles General Muhlenberg rendered 
distinguished services, but he could not turn defeat into 
victory. Had all fought as bravely as he and his Virginia 
troops victories would have resulted. 

174 



PETER MUHLENBERG 

Upon this campaign followed the winter at Valley Forge, 
near the Muhlenberg home, with the British safely and 
securely entrenched in the city of Brotherly Love. 

The leaving of the city by the British in June, 1778, 
brought about the battle of Monmouth, where Muhlen- 
berg and Von Steuben retrieved the disaster caused by 
General Lee's blunder. During the summer of 1779, when 
General Anthony Wayne made the mad assault success- 
fully upon Stony Point, Muhlenberg was second in com- 
mand. At the end of this year the Virginia line was 
ordered to the defence of Charleston, under General Wood- 
ford, and Muhlenberg was sent to Virginia to take sole com- 
mand of the defence of the State. This change in his rank 
and position, which at first seemed unjust to Muhlenberg, 
saved him from imprisonment in Charleston, when all 
the American soldiers were made prisoners. In Virginia 
Muhlenberg spent the year 1780 recruiting companies for 
the southern army and defending the State against the 
enemy. In December Von Steuben arrived and took com- 
mand, and later Lafayette. The armies on both sides 
were beginning to concentrate here for a final conflict. 
During 1781 Washington arrived with the main army, 
w T hich was reinforced by the French allies on land and sea. 
In the final struggle, October 19, 1781, General Muhlen- 
berg was a prominent actor, and he acquitted himself with 
distinction, drawing from Washington words of most 
earnest commendation. At all times he received expres- 
sions of highest approbation from his superior officers, 
among whom, besides Washington and Lee, were Von 
Steuben, Lafayette, Gates, and Greene. Yorktown 

175 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

ended Muhlenberg's active services on the battlefield. 
The whole of the year 1782 was spent by him in Virginia, 
recruiting the regiments, drilling and equipping the sol- 
diers for the southern army. The year 1783 was spent 
in the same way, though by this time it was evident that 
the war was over. September 30th, before the news of 
peace had reached the colonies, our hero, the Brigadier 
General, was made a Major General, an honor that he 
truly merited. At the end of this year he moved to 
Philadelphia with his family, and was called into the active 
service of his native State. The gift of himself to his 
country was complete. He gave away his minister's 
gown, put aside his military garb, and having once taken 
up the toga of statesmanship he never laid it away again. 
Many were the positions of honor and trust his State 
and country tendered him. First, he was made a mem- 
ber of the Supreme Executive Committee of Pennsyl- 
vania; then Vice President of the Commonwealth with 
Franklin as President; then a Representative in the 
First, the Third and the Sixth Congress; then United 
States Senator from Pennsylvania; at the time of his 
death he held an appointment under President Jefferson. 
As a Christian citizen he was an active member of 
Zion's and St. Michael's Lutheran congregation of Phila- 
delphia. He was one of the leaders in the establishment 
of St. John's English Lutheran Church on Race Street. 
The Lord allowed him to live to see the difficult undertak- 
ing crowned with success. When he passed away his 
children reverently laid his body beside that of his father 
in the God's acre of the Augustus Church at the Trappe, 

176 




General Muhlenberg Statue, City Hall, Philadelphia 



PETER MUHLENBERG 

and this is the loving inscription they had engraved on the 
tablet over his grave: 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 

GENERAL PETER MUHLENBERG, BORN 

OCTOBER 1ST, A. D. 1 746, DEPARTED THIS LIFE 

OCTOBER 1ST, ANNO DOMINI, 1807, AGED 6l YEARS. 

HE WAS BRAVE IN THE FIELD, FAITHFUL 

IN THE CABINET, HONORABLE IN 

ALL HIS TRANSACTIONS, A SINCERE FRIEND 

AND AN HONEST MAN. 

His memory is revered to our day, and his name has 
been greatly honored. His own State chose him as one of 
the two distinguished citizens whose statue might be placed 
in the Capitol at Washington. In this statue he is repre- 
sented in the act of revealing his colonel's uniform from 
under his clerical robe. 

The German Society of Philadelphia, of which he was 
repeatedly elected President, encouraged and aided by 
sixty-five similar societies, together with the citizens 
of Philadelphia in general, October 6, 1910, unveiled a 
fine bronze statue on the south plaza of the twenty- 
million-dollar city hall of Philadelphia. It was erected 
by the Germans to perpetuate for all time the fame of 
General Peter Muhlenberg, minister, warrior, statesman. 
The statue is of heroic size and mounted on a granite 
pedestal. The hero is represented by the sculptor in 
full uniform and looks every inch a soldier. A bronze 
bass-relief on the front of the pedestal presents the scene 
that took place in the Lutheran Church at Woodstock, 

177 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Virginia, when after pronouncing the benediction, he 
threw aside his clerical robe and stood before the large 
congregation in full soldier's uniform, uttering the famous 
sentence, "There is a time for all things, a time to preacl 
and a time to fight, and now is the time to fight." The 
members of the congregation are springing from their 
seats in wild, patriotic enthusiasm, ready to follow their 
pastor from the church to the battlefield. 

On the other faces of the pedestal are found the names 
of the battles in which he participated, the positions of 
honor and trust he held, and the seal of the German 
Society. 

Our hero was a minister of fiery determination in up- 
holding the truth, a warrior of unvarying courage and 
prompt decision, and a statesman of sterling integrity. 
His efficient and brilliant services won for him the esteem 
and admiration of his contemporaries and earned for him 
an undying name in America. He secured for the Church 
of which he was a minister, and in whose faith he lived and 
died, a place in the Temple of Liberty he helped to rear as 
a brave and wise master builder. 

i 7 8 




John Adam Treutlen 



XIX 

JOHN ADAM TREUTLEN 

In endeavoring to keep the American colonies in sub- 
jection to the British crown, England's plan was to retain 
as many of her provinces separately in her grasp as possible. 
It is easy to understand, therefore, that if the British 
had succeeded in holding Massachusetts it would have 
given them a most convenient and effective seat of war 
from which to advance upon New York, New Jersey, and 
Pennsylvania. In a similar manner they early assailed 
Savannah and Charleston with the idea that should they 
hold Georgia and South Carolina their approach upon the 
colonies from the south would promptly result in main- 
taining British control in North Carolina and Virginia. 
They were driven from Boston and likewise from Savannah 
and Charleston, yet so determined were they in the prose- 
cution of this plan, that though repulsed in 1776 at each 
of the southern ports they returned late in the year 1778 
and reconquered Savannah and Charleston and held 
parts of Georgia and South Carolina for months after the 
fall of Yorktown. The last battle of the Revolution was 
fought on the soil of Georgia, seven months after the 
surrender of Cornwallis. It was an American victory 
won by Mad Anthony Wayne, and resulted in the open- 
ing of Savannah to the American army in July, 1782. 

179 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

General Greene entered Charleston in the following 
December. These facts show the importance of the part 
of the Revolutionary War enacted in the South. 

The British were driven from Boston by Washington. 
They were foiled in their attempts to hold the port of 
Savannah by the gallant services of men like Governor 
John Adam Treutlen, the greatest Lutheran layman 
produced by the Salzburgers in Georgia. This sketch, the 
last of the series entitled " Lutheran Landmarks and 
Pioneers in America," the writer desires to devote to the 
heroic career of this noble builder of the Temple of Liberty, 
who died a martyr's death in the cause of American free- 
dom and independence. 

When eleven years of age John Adam Treutlen was 
brought to the Salzburger ministers by his mother, who 
lived in a small settlement near Savannah, called Vernon- 
burg. His mother's object was to have him educated and 
confirmed in the Ebenezer colony. The records show 
that he had an older brother who settled on a plantation 
half way between Savannah and Ebenezer, and had his 
children baptized by the Salzburger pastors. There was 
another brother, well known to the Lutheran pastor at 
London, who lost his life by drowning at Gosport, England. 

These details are recorded in the German reports of 
Pastor Bolzius. We are left in doubt about other facts 
that we would like to know concerning the family. We 
cannot tell whether the Treutlens came from Salzburg or 
not. If they did, they must have lingered in England 
longer than the other refugees, or arrived there after 
the others had come to America, for after 1741 the Salz- 

180 



JOHN ADAM TREUTLEN 

burgers came only in separate families. It is just as 
probable that they came from South Germany. Be this 
as it may, it seems the vessel in which the family sailed 
for America was captured by pirates, that the family was 
robbed of all its possessions, that the father was thrown 
into prison and died there, and that the mother with her 
tw T o boys was allowed to find her way to America as best 
she could. 

After untold difficulties and privations, of which we 
have no record, the three strangers reached Savannah and 
the mother found a home at Vernonburg. Frederick, 
the older son, in a short time took up a grant of land and 
married; John Adam came to Ebenezer and made that his 
home; the mother married again, and, at least for some 
years, lived at Vernonburg. In 1747, at the age of 
fourteen years, the young son at Ebenezer was confirmed. 
Bolzius frequently speaks of him in his reports and com- 
mends him for his industry at work, his zeal in learning, 
and his obedience in conduct. At first, while at Ebenezer, 
he worked on a plantation, but he soon advanced himself 
by his diligence and found a home with the surgeon of the 
colony, Dr. Mayer. His new r master took particular pains 
to teach him, and allowed him to assist in his surgical 
work. Dr. Mayer taught school in addition to his other 
duties, and this was of great advantage to young Treutlen. 
Suddenly a change came over the boy that gave Dr. 
Mayer and the two pastors a heavy heart. Young 
Treutlen became careless in his work and conduct. The 
cause was soon discovered. It lay in the evil influence of 
his stepfather, whom he met whenever he visited his 

181 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

mother. Fortunately the eyes of the young man were 
opened to his danger before he had gone too far, and he 
repented. From that time forth he was a wiser boy and 
became very respectful to his employer, grateful to the 
two pastors, and very devout in the performance of his 
religious duties. He continued to study earnestly and 
added to his other branches the study of the English 
language. He saw the importance of this and applied 
himself very carefully to his English reader and grammar. 
He became a good scholar, wrote a clear, round hand and 
acquired a vigorous style of composition. Some years 
later he served for a year as a drug clerk in Savannah, 
which added both to his experience and knowledge and 
taught him tact and grace in dealing with people. 

In his church life he was so regular and faithful that he 
was elected a deacon before the death of the first pastor 
in 1765. He remained a deacon to the end of his life, and 
when the patriarch Muhlenberg visited Ebenezer in 1774 
he was the leading officer of the congregation and made a 
most favorable impression upon Muhlenberg by his calm, 
deliberate, wise, and peace-seeking manner of procedure; 
by his conscientious and unwavering defence of the right; 
and by his consistent Christian character and conduct. 
Muhlenberg never forgot him and frequently wrote to him 
in the friendliest manner. One of his letters he transcribed 
into his diary before sending it, for which we must be very 
thankful, as it contains information not elsewhere found. 
In 1774 the families came near being linked together by 
marriage. A son of the sister of Mrs. Muhlenberg was left 
fatherless in his earliest infancy, and whilq still very young 

182 



JOHN ADAM TREUTLEN 

his mother married again and the stepfather was a Catholic. 
The child had been baptized into the Lutheran faith, of 
which his father was a minister, and the famous Dr. 
Israel Acrelius was his sponsor. When the son was 
seventeen years of age he was sent to Ebenezer to escape 
the undesirable influence of his stepfather. Here he found 
employment in the home of Mr. Treutlen, who by this 
time had become a rich planter and merchant, possessing 
over thirteen hundred acres of land and holding twenty- 
three negroes in his service. In this prosperous home were 
the parents and at least five children, among whom was a 
daughter. The mother was a very fine woman, mentioned 
favorably by Bolzius and Muhlenberg, born in Purysburg, 
South Carolina, early left an orphan and sent to Eben- 
ezer to be educated and confirmed, which took place 
in 1754. Mr. and Mrs. Treutlen kindly befriended young 
Israel and were as a father and mother to him. A fond 
attachment sprang up between the young man and the 
daughter, and it began to be whispered about that they 
were to be married. No doubt the ceremony would have 
been performed during Muhlenberg's stay at Ebenezer; 
but, alas! two months before Muhlenberg arrived the 
young man, in endeavoring to control a spirited horse, was 
killed. Sadness filled the once happy home, as the orphan 
boy, the only bearer of his father's name in America, 
breathed his last, and when the information reached the 
uncle and aunt at Charleston, they deeply grieved over the 
early death of their young nephew in whom they were so 
much interested. 

Treutlen's political career began early. Soon after the 

183 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

year 1760, at least as early as 1764, he was appointed 
magistrate, or justice of the peace, for St. Matthew's 
Parish. His employer had filled this office before him, and 
Treutlen's knowledge of both German and English and his 
close observation of his master's experience enabled him to 
be of decided service to his people. He was repeatedly 
appointed to this position of trust and usefulness. While 
serving as magistrate he was sent by St. Matthew's 
Parish to the Provincial Assembly under the British Gov- 
ernor Wright. For twelve years before the breaking out 
of the Revolution he was called into public service again 
and again, and when the contest for liberty began he was 
one of the first and foremost among those who contended 
for the establishment of a free government for the Amer- 
ican colonies. He was a member of the first congress 
elected for the purpose of forming a State, which met at 
Savannah July 4, 1775. He was present when the 
measures and recommendations of the Continental Con- 
gress were approved by the Georgia Assembly, and was 
appointed a member of the Committee of Safety created 
by this body to serve during the intermission. In the 
work of this committee he was in the van of activity. The 
British Governor was arrested and held a prisoner on their 
order. In the fall of 1776 a constitution for the State of 
Georgia was drafted and adopted. According to its 
provisions a State Legislature was appointed whose first 
duty it was to elect a governor. When the Legislature 
met, May 8, 1777, John Adam Treutlen was elected as 
governor by a large majority and installed at once. Thus 
the Lutheran deacon of Jerusalem Church became the 

184 



JOHN ADAM TREUTLEN 

first governor under the constitution of Georgia as a free 
State. By the terms of election he could serve but one 
term of one year. He was styled "The Honorable John 
Adam Treutlen," and was "captain general, governor and 
commander in chief in and over said State of Georgia.' ' 
His term of service was marked by bravery and brilliancy. 
He issued eleven masterful proclamations with telling 
effect. He thwarted the encroachments of the British 
from the east and south, met the attacks of the Indians 
from the west, and successfully defied the approaches of 
the "combiners" from the north. 

The last refers to the efforts made by citizens from South 
Carolina who wanted to combine South Carolina and 
Georgia into one State, under the style and title of South 
Carolina. This plan would have deprived Georgia of its 
autonomy, or separate authority. It is needless to say 
that the project was very objectionable to all Georgians, 
for they felt proud of the noble history of their State. 
By the prompt and vigorous action of Governor Treutlen 
this scheme was defeated and the integrity of the State 
preserved for all time. In one of the Indian outbreaks he 
took his place at the head of the militia and drove back the 
enemy to their great confusion and disaster, and we do not 
hear of their returning again. During his term he mort- 
gaged his property to defray the expenses of the govern- 
ment and of the Revolution. The bond w T as satisfied 
years afterwards by his son Christian. 

The joy of his service as governor was marred by 
the death of his wife, June 25, 1777. Muhlenberg, in his 
wonderful letter to His Excellency Governor Treutlen, 

185 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

refers feelingly to this sad event in the life of his friend, and 
contrasts the joy of May 8th with the sorrow of June 25th. 
Treutlen had himself written to Muhlenberg, and two of 
his topics were the events of these two dates. 

After the expiration of his term he retired to his planta- 
tion north of Ebenezer and married again. But there was 
no peace for the brave man. He was branded by the Brit- 
ish as the "rebel governor," and put by name under the 
unalterable ban of death. When the British reconquered 
Georgia and devastated the whole State as far as Augusta, 
he and his family were driven into South Carolina, his 
property was confiscated and his home and barns were 
burned to the ground. This was early in 1779. Treutlen 
settled near Orangeburg. Here he found that his reputa- 
tion for patriotism had preceded him and he easily won 
the esteem and approbation of his new neighbors. In the 
fall of 1 781 he was elected to the State Assembly from his 
district, but circumstances prevented him from serving. 
His own State elected him to a similar position and he felt 
that his former home had a prior claim on him. When the 
Georgia Assembly met in Augusta, which was now freed 
again of British control, he was there taking an active part 
in all the business and serving on the most important 
committees. The Assembly adjourned January 12th to 
meet again July 1st, but the governor called a special 
session to meet April 18th. When they came together 
our hero was not there to answer to his name. Where was 
he? The Assembly records give us the information that 
a certain one was appointed on a committee in the room 
of Mr. Treutlen, deceased. We do not' know how it 

186 




The Oglethorpe Monument, Savannah, Georgia 



JOHN ADAM TREUTLEN 

happened, but some time in the spring of 1782, a short 
time before April 18th, he was decoyed from his home in 
South Carolina by four or five tories and " barbarously 
murdered," as was afterwards reported to Muhlenberg. 
It is evident that he gave his enemies no chance to cease 
their enmity against him, but continued active in the 
struggle for liberty. Professor Faust says he entered the 
American army under General Wayne and served as a 
volunteer. This is probably true, as his name is enrolled 
among the honored soldiers of the Continental line. 
Undaunted in spirit, with undiminished zeal and patriot- 
ism, he fought until his sacrifices were sealed with his life 
blood. The adopted son of Georgia and South Carolina 
gave his life for the freedom of his country, and through 
his martyrdom the Lutheran Church participated in the 
laying of the foundation stones of the Temple of Liberty. 
John Adam Treutlen is not known as well as he should 
be by our Lutheran Church nor by the people of the State 
in which he spent by far the greatest part of his useful life. 
His grave is known to but few, and is unmarked, save, 
perhaps, by a very simple stone. His memory is not per- 
petuated by a single column or shaft known to the writer, 
nor his name given to a single county, town, park, avenue 
or street in any part of Georgia or South Carolina. 
Neither have our historians done deserved justice to his 
name, deeds, and character. Savannah is fast becoming 
a beautiful city of monuments. Tomo-Chichi, Ogle- 
thorpe, Pulaski, and Jasper are fittingly and magnificently 
remembered, but the memory of the man who so bravely 
defended Savannah against the encroachments of the 

187 



LUTHERAN LANDMARKS AND PIONEERS IN AMERICA 

Indians and of the British, who was called to be its first 
governor and who courageously gave his life for the 
rights and liberties of the American people, receives no 
just recognition. A monument and park in Savannah, 
a county in Georgia, avenues or parks in the large cities 
of Atlanta, Augusta, and Macon, and a suitable shaft or 
monument at his place of burial near Orangeburg, South 
Carolina, should be reared to the memory of his untar- 
nished, unselfish, and heroic life sacrificed in the realms 
of patriotism for the cause of freedom and independence. 

The Lutheran Church is not a foreign Church. She 
was here in the dawn of the American Republic, and helped 
to dispel the darkness of dependence and to weave the 
light and brightness of the sun of freedom that rose upon 
our country. She was here when our nation opened wide 
her gates to immigration and received far more members 
than she ever possessed in colonial times, but thereby she 
does not lose her right to be regarded as one of the charter 
members of the American Republic. Like the nation in 
which she thrives she is "one out of many," and one whose 
life on American soil is inextricably interwoven with that 
of the nation. 

188 



APPENDIX 



THE WONDERFUL LETTER 

Written in Masterful English by Pastor Muhlen- 
berg to Governor Treutlen 

(Referred to in Sketches XVII and XIX. Spelling and capital- 
ization retained.) 

Dear Sir: I had just finished and addressed a few lines 
to my kind Friend John Adam Treutlen, Esquire, when 
unexpected there arrived two Gentlemen from Georgia 
at my house and delivered a condescending Letter of His 
Excellency dated August 14th, a. c., 1 containing the com- 
fortable account "that mine old Friend Esquire Treutlen 
were alive yet and still retained an undeserved fervent 
Love and Regard for me and my family, praying it might 
please the most High to comfort me and my Wife in our 
old age. Moreover 'that my Worthy Friend took pleas- 
ure in meeting and seeing my Sons last year, etc., and 
promiseth in Future if a little leisure should permit to 
open his whole store of Intelligence, i. e., his whole heart 
to me." What due thanks can I return to such a well- 
wishing Friend and Benefactor? French Compliments 
and Flatteries are mere words, too empty and tedious to 
serious and Christian Minds. I shall therefore as in duty 
1 " Anno currente," the current year. 
189 



APPENDIX 

bound endeavor to supplicate at the Throne of Grace at 
the fountain Head of all Prosperity and Blessings suited 
for Soul and Body, for time and Eternity, that it may 
please the only true and everliving Saviour of the World, 
(whom the gay part of the World doth despise and expell 
and the Ignorant part not know) to revive in the Soul of 
my dear old Friend the many past impressions, calls, 
awakenings, good purposes and convictions of the Gospel 
Truths tending to effect that living Faith which is con- 
nected with that Peace and lasting happiness, satisfac- 
tion, Honor and Glory which no transcient object in the 
most gay and witty World can afford and which is followed 
by the same operations of the divine Spirit and Gospel 
Truth in daily Renovation and Sanctification without 
which no Mortal shall see and enjoy the endless Blessings 
and Perfections purchased and prepared for a future State. 
King Solomon had tried all the Objects in the gay World 
whatsoever may be called a refined taste but the result of 
it was Vanity of Vanity. 

Concerning the Hints of Intelligence, it surprized me and 
remaineth a Mystery till further Explanation, that my 
beloved Brother R. a few days before his death in a 
manner should have renounced his Friendship and Confi- 
dence in a certain experienced Friend of so many years! 
There are reasons for every Action and Passion, but there 
is also a Difference between genuine and apparent reasons. 

It grieveth me "that the Ebenezer Congregation is in a 
deplorable Condition, chiefly owing to themselves." 
Pity! if the People don't or won't take good Advice. Last 
Spring I received a letter from the mourning Widow 

190 



APPENDIX 

Madam Rabenhorst and likewise from the Elders and 
Wardens of the Congregation, wherein they advised the 
Departure of their dear Shepherd, my beloved Brother, 
and asked how they should do concerning the legacy, 
whereof the Rev'd Pastor Rabenhorst and his dear Espouse 
had given a bond executed unto the Rev'd Directors in 
Europe, acknowledged before the Honorable Esquire 
Treutlen, recorded in Savannah and a Copy of it delivered 
unto the Elders and Wardens. The Original Bond I was 
obliged to send to the Rev'd Fathers in Europe according 
to their Instructions and is safe come to hand. The said 
Vestry desired I should write to Europe and advise the 
Rev'd Fathers of the present Vacancy and that the Con- 
gregation might be provided with a faithful Minister, etc. 
But the communication being cut off, I tried several Means 
in vain, till at last I got an Opportunity to send a Letter 
to New York unsealed, and begged a friend there to pro- 
mote it to Europe. The time is too short for expecting 
an Answer as yet. So far I have communicated what little 
I had at heart with my much respected Friend Esquire 
Treutlen. 

And whereas "the Face of Affairs has changed exceed- 
ingly since I left my loving Friends in Georgia," I must 
therefore needs change my Style also, Rom. 13, 7, Honor 
to whom honor is due — 

Mr. Wm. Horsby arriving at my house on the 14th of 
October, a. c, delivered Your Excellency's condescending 
Letter, dated Aug. 14th, a. c, safe to me. The 8th of 
May and 25th of June a. c. are memorable Days worthy to 
be remembered. Accidit in puncto, quod non speratur in 

191 



APPENDIX 

Anno. 1 With the loss of your Excellency's Consort I 
heartily condole and sympathize, wishing divine Provi- 
dence may supply the Vacancy with an Heiress of Grace 
adorned with the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit 
which is in the Sight of God of great Price. And so to the 
Accident of the 8th of May I humbly think it may suit as 
well to congratulate at the Expiration of the year. For in 
the present critical Juncture and Constellation it seems 
dangerous and too burdensome to be exposed in high Sta- 
tions. In old times they had a Proverb and used to say: 
vox populi, vox Dei, i. e., the Voice of the people is the 
Voice of God; but since the Face of Affairs happens to 
change exceedingly, it may turn opposite and be said, the 
Voice of the People is vox Diaboli, especially when they 
are divided into parties opposite. We find an instance in 
Acts 14, nss, The people lift up their voices and proclaimed 
Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius and prepared Sacri- 
fices, etc.: but how soon did the Face of Affairs change 
when Sacrifices were turned into Stones? Nevertheless 
all changes are under the unerring Rules of Divine Provi- 
dence, Dan. 2 : 2iss. It is the most High and Almighty 
that changeth the Times and Seasons: He removeth Kings 
and setteth up Kings: He giveth Wisdom unto the Wise 
and addeth Knowledge to understanding. He revealeth 
the deep and secret things. He knoweth what is in the 
Darkness and the Light dwelleth with him. May the 
Lord of Heaven and Earth, of all Wisdom, Power and 
Glory support Your Excellency with sufficient strength 

1 Things come to pass in a moment which are not looked for in a 
year. 

192 



APPENDIX 

and Spirit under the heavy burden of the present high 
station for His Honor and Glory, for the welfare of the 
State and prosperity of your tender beloved Offspring, 
which is the fervent Prayer of Your Excellency's most 
humble and obedient servant, 

H. M. Muhlenberg. 
New Providence, Oct. 14, 1777. 

P. S. Bearer of these lines is the Rev'd Mr. Christian 
Streit who has served as minister several years in some 
of our United Lutheran Congregations, and the last time 
as chaplain in the 9th Regiment of Virginia, and being 
desired to officiate in the German Congregation at Charles- 
town, he intends to move there, and this gave me oppor- 
tunity to commit unto him this letter, being of humble 
opinion it might not be amiss, if he should step over from 
Charlestown to Savannah and EbenEzer in Order to visit 
our Flock, in case they should be quite destitute of a 
Lutheran Minister. If he should come there I would 
humbly recommend him to Your Excellency's protection 
as long as he behaveth according as he has done here. 

Query: In case the Mistake concerning the Jurisdiction 
of the EbenEzer Churches and Land were not yet settled 
aright, would it not now be in season to have that point 
settled since Your Excellency are in that Station? Might 
not the Elders and Wardens make application for it? But 
if it is settled already, as Mr. Triebner has mentioned in 
his Letter to the Rev'd Mr. Pasche, I shall rest content. 

The Seat of War is now in the Heart and Bowels of 
Pennsylvania. Devastation and Poverty are the Effects. 

193 



APPENDIX 

It seems we must move nearer Southward, because it is 
hard to live naked in a cold climate with an empty 
stomach, etc. The wisest and best, or surest Method 
is to lay up a Treasure in Heaven, etc., where neither 
Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not 
break through nor steal. 

' H. M. M. 

194 



INDEX 



INDEX 



Academy of Philadelphia, 106, [ Christina, Queen, 28-33 



150, 160 
Acrelius, 30 
Amundsen, Roalf, 16 
Arens, Bernard Anton, 25 
Arminians, 23 
Augustus Lutheran Church. See 

Trappe Church. 
Aureen, Jonas, 47-48, 49, 54, 55, 57 

Bancroft, George, 123, 170, 173 
Bengston, Anders, 39-41, 61 
Berkeley, Sir William, 170, 172 
Berkenmeyer, 26, 27, 96 
Biorck, Eric Tobias, 49-58, 62, 65 
Bolzius, Gotthilf Israel, 152-153 
Bolzius, John Martin, 124-130, 
*33-i36, 137, 140, 144, 180, 183 
Brock, Hans, 19 
Brunnholtz, 134 
Buskirck, Jacob van, 148, 149, 166 

Campanius, John, 30, 31, 32, 33, 

43 
Carpenter, William, 165 
Charles Gustavus, 33 
Charles IX, 32, 43, 47, 49 
Christian IV, 16, 20 
Christina Church, 55-57, 63, 112 
Christina, Fort, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 

53 



College of Philadelphia. See 

Academy of Philadelphia. 
Collin, Nicholas, 72-79 
Coram, Captain, 124 
Cranehook. See Tranhook. 

Denmark, New, 16, 21 
Dutch East India Company, 22 
Dutch West India Company, 22 
Dylander, 98 

Ebenezer Church, Albany, N. Y., 

25 
Ebenezer Church, Georgia, 80, 81, 

129, 141-147, 174 
Ebenezer, New, 127, 147 
Ebenezer, Old, 126, 127, 147 
Eliot, 32 
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 89 

Fabritius, Jacob, 25, 37-41 
Fairfax, Lord, 164 
Falckner, Daniel, 26, 27, 87, 93-96 
Falckner, Justus, 26, 17, 65-67, 94 
Faust, Prof. A. B., 102, 187 
Francke, Dr. A. H., 113 
Francke, Dr. G. A., 113, 152 
Franklin, Benjamin, 106, 176 
Franklin College, 106, 156 
Frederick William, 172 



197 



INDEX 



Fry, Dr. J., 117 
Fusiliers, German, 149 

Gates, General, 175 

Geiger, Valentine, 96 

Gloria Dei Church. See Wicaco 

Church. 
Greene, General, 175, 180 
Gronau, Israel Christian, 124, 

126, 137, 143 
Gustavus Adolphus, 28 

Handschuh, J. F., 134 

Hartwick Seminary, 27 

Hartwig, J. C, 27 

Hebron Church, 80-90, 99 

Henkel, Anthony Jacob, 96-98 

Henkel, Gerhard, 96 

Henkel, Paul, 89, 97, 165, 167 

Henry, Patrick, 170 

Hinke, Dr. W. J., 87 

Holgh, 34 

Huddle, Rev. W. P., 81-89 

Hudson, Henry, 15, 22 

Huguenots, 23 

Humboldt, Alexander von, 157 

Jacobs, Dr. H. E., 26, 38, 123 
Jasper, 187 

Jefferson, Thomas, 176 
Jensen, Rasmus, 16-20 
Jerusalem Church, See Ebenezer 

Church. 
Jocques, Isaac, 22 

Kalcher, Ruprecht, 127 
Kieft, Governor, 23 
Kline, Dr. J. J., 94, 96 
Kling, engineer, 29 



Klug, George Samuel, 82, 88, 89 
Koch, Lars, 61 
Koch, Peter, 61 
Koch, Peter, 67, 69, 70 
Kocherthal, Von, 27 
Kraft, Valentine, 67, 92 
Kretschmann, Dr. E. T., 92, 114, 

117 
Kuhn, Daniel, 154, 161 
Kunze, Dr. J. C, 26, 27, 108 

Lafayette, General, 175 
Lee, Gen. Charles, 173, 174, 175 
Lee, Richard Henry, 170 
Lemcke, H. H., 137, 138, 140, 143 
Lidenius, John Abraham, 73, 74, 

148, 166 
Linnaeus, 157 
Lock, Lawrence, 34-41 
Longfellow, H. W., 118 

Mann, Dr. W. J., ^ 161 

Markham, William, 44 
Matthias, 34 
Mayer, Dr., 132, 181 
Miller, H. S., 116 
Ministerium of New York, 27, 155 
Ministerium of Pennsylvania, 70 
Minuit, Peter, 22, 30, 31 
Mittelberger, Gottlieb, 115, 119 
Muhlenberg, F. A., 27, 150-157 
Muhlenberg, H. M., 25, 27, 47, 

56, 67, 69, 77, m-115, 131- 

134, 139, 140, 141, 145, 149, 

160-163, 182, 183, 187 
Muhlenberg, Henry, 150-157 
Muhlenberg, Mary Salome, 145 
Muhlenberg, Mrs. H. M., 115, 

145, 182 



I98 



INDEX 



Muhlenberg, Peter, 80, 108, 118, 
145, 150-157, 161, 166, 168-178 
Muhlenberg, Dr. W. A., 117 
Munck, Captain Jens, 15-21 

Naesman, 69, 70 

Nerturius, 34 

New Hanover Church, 93, 95, 97, 

in 
Nicholson, Gov. Francis, 43 
Nicum, Dr. John, 26 
Norberg, 30 
Nyberg, 69 

Oglethorpe, Gen. James, 123, 125, 

127, 187 
Old Ebenezer Church. See Eben- 
ezer Church. 
Old Hebron Church. See Hebron 

Church. 
Old Swamp Church. See New 

Hanover Church. 
Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia. 

See Wicaco Church. 
Old Swedes Church, Swedesboro, 

N. J. See Swedesboro Church. 
Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, 

Del. See Christina Church. 
Old Trappe Church. See Trappe 

Church. 
Orphan House, Ebenezer, 127- 

129 
Oxenstiern, Chancellor, 28 

Palatinates, 23 

Penn, William, 31, 35, 42, 59, 60, 

61 
Pennsneck, 49, 73-74 
Peterson, Adam, 61 



Pigeon Point. See Tranhook. 
Pliitschau, 20 
Princeton College, 149 
Printz, Andrew, 42 
Printz, Governor, 31, 34, 42 
Pulaski, 187 

Rabenhorst, Christian, 131, 138, 

140, 143, 174 
Raccoon Church. See Swedes- 
boro Church. 
Rambo, 61 

Read, Thomas Buchanan, 170 
Reck, Baron von, 123, 126 
Richards, Rev. J. W., 116 
Richards, Matthias, 108 
Rincon, Ga., Church, 144 
Rudman, Andrew, 27, 45-47, 54, 
55, 57, 62, 63, 65, 66 

Sachse, Dr. J. F., 65, 96, 114 

St. George's Church. See Penns- 
neck. 

St. John's English Church, Phila- 
delphia, 170 

St. Michael's Church, German- 
town, 98 

St. Michael's Church, Philadel- 
phia, 176 

Salzburgers, 22, 23, 80, 121-140 

Sandel, Pastor, 65 

Schley dorn, Henry, 67, 69 

Schmauk, Dr. T. E., 17, 26 

Schmidt, of New Hanover, 92 

Schulz, John Christian, 87, 88, 
100, 101 

Schultze, Governor, 108 

Schwarbach, John, 89 

Sheibley, George, 88 



199 



DEC 5 1913 



INDEX 



Spaeth, Dr. A., 117 
Spottswood, Governor, 86 
Springer, C. C, 40-41, 43, 44, 5° 
Steuben, Baron von, 175 
Stevens, 123 
Stoever, John Caspar, Jr., 87, 99- 

100, 114 
Stoever, John Caspar, Sr., 82, 87- 

90,99 
Stollen, Furgen, 85 
Streit, Christian, 145, 153, 154, 

160-167 
Streit, John Leonhard, 160 
Strobel, P. A., 123 
Stuyvesant, 23, $s 
Swaine, Gen. Francis, 108 
Swaine, Mrs. Francis, 163 
Swamp Church. See New Han- 
over Church, 
Swanson or Swenson, 36, 60, 61 
Swedesboro Church, 48, 57, 73-79 

Tannenberg, David, 84 

Thelin, John, 42 

Timotheus, 125 

Tinicum Island, 32, ss y 35, 39, 45, 

62 
Tomo-Chichi, 187 
Torkillus, Reorus, 17, 30-31 
Tranberg, Peter, 47, 67, 69, 78 
Tranhook, 34, 37, 44, 49, 53, 55 
Trappe Church, 80, 92, 1 10-120 
Treutlen, Christian, 185 
Treutlen, John Adam, 133, 145, 

162, 174, 179-188 
Treutlen, Muhlenberg's Letter 

to, 162, 185, 189 
Triebner, C. F., 136-140 
Trinity Church, New York, 26, 96 



Trinity Church, Swedesboro. See 

Swedesboro Church. 
Trinity Church, Wilmington, Del. 

See Christina Church. 

University of Pennsylvania, 160 

Vatt, 127 

Vigera, John F., 127, 132 

Waldensians, 23, 121 

Waldhauer, C. C, 133 

War Record of Christian Streit, 

161 
Washington, George, 118, 169, 175 
Wayne, Gen. Anthony, 175, 179, 

187 
Weiser, Anna Maria, 115 
Weiser, Conrad, 151 
Wertsch, 133 
Weygandt, J. A., 148 
Whitefield, 127 
Wicaco Church, 36, 37, 44, 45, 57, 

60, 62-70 
Winchester Church, 163-164 
Wolf, Dr., 26 
Woodford, General, 175 
Woodstock Church, 169-170 
Wrangel, Dr. C. M. von, 149, 154, 

161 

Yokum, P., 62 

Ziegenbalg, 20 

Ziegenhagen, 68 

Zion Church, Ebenezer, 129 

Zion Church, Philadelphia, no, 

176 
Zwifler, 126 



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